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Tag Archives: Matt Saulez
Jake BURNAGE (ENG) from Saunton G.C. is the 2019 St. Andrews Links Trophy champion.
In a superb performance he recorded a 268 (-20) total and completed a remarkable comeback, having started the day 6 shots back of the leader Matty LAMB (ENG).
Talking to the St. Andrews Links Trust organisers afterwards Jake said "I love this pace that's for sure. It's basically my home because I'm a links golfer. It's nothing new for myself. I forgot about last year (when he finished tied 3rd) and concentrated on doing the job this year. It's amazing to turnaround and you suddenly see a lot of people behind you. It's pretty cool. I love a crowd. I'm not scared of one, I'd much prefer to have one than not have one that's my take on it."
Burnage rose 96 places to 30th in the updated Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking and as an existing initial squad member now looks a certainty for the GB&I Walker Cup team.
Jake Burnage and Family (Photo: Burnage Family)
Matty LAMB (ENG) finished 2nd and whilst he will be frustrated there was much to admire in his play this week.
Today's 36 holes were never going to be a straight forward coronation for Lamb and with conditions much better than originally expected there was always hope for the chasing pack.
Burnage made inroads this morning reducing Lamb's lead to 3 shots at lunch.
Both players completed the front nine this afternoon in level par, Lamb appearing to be the steadier. However, Burnage then seized the initiative on the 10th with a birdie, reducing Lamb's lead to 2 shots. The 618 yard par 5 14th proved to be the 2019 Championship's pivotal hole. Burnage eagled from 10 feet whilst Lamb bogeyed. The three shot swing suddenly put Burnage in the driving seat, now with a 1 shot advantage with four holes to play. A little surprisingly, given the holes in question and the circumstances, both players pared in and the man from Devon was crowned the winner.
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRE) shot 66 this afternoon to secure 3rd place on 271 (-17). James WILSON (SCO) 67 and Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG) 68 also finished strongly to tied for 4th on 275 (-13).
Bailey GILL (ENG) recorded the best Round 4 score. His 65 lifted him up to tied 12th.
The Final Results (Photo: St Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
Click here to view the complete – 2019 St Andrews Links Trophy Results
The good news for Matty LAMB (ENG) was he shot a solid 69 (-3) in his morning around on the Old Course. Five birdies were offset by a double bogey 6 on the 16th. As a result he continues to lead the St. Andrews Links Trophy on -20 after 54 holes.
The bad news was his nearest challenger Jake BURNAGE (ENG) showed no signs of going away. The Devonian shot the best round of the remaining 40 players; a 66 (-6) including 7 birdies to move onto -17, now only 3 shots back with 18 holes to play.
Jake Burnage's Rd 3 Scorecard (Photo: St Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
The final pair are playing some great golf including these two par rescues on the Road Hole – well worth a watch.
Box office stuff this! Two fighting fours from our leaders on the Road Hole 17th. Jake Burnage from the road, Matty Lamb from the infamous Road Hole Bunker. It's looking more and more like a two horse race to win the 2019 #LinksTrophy pic.twitter.com/OyouU7rDbD
— St Andrews Links (@TheHomeofGolf) June 9, 2019
Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) 67, Tiarnan MCLARNON (IRE) 68 and Josh GREER (AUS) 68 all moved up the leaderboard after good rounds.
Matty LAMB (ENG) followed yesterday's 64 (-8) on the Jubilee Course with an even more impressive 63 (-9) on the Old Course today. After a bogey on the relatively straight forward first he produced 10 birdies in his remaining 17 holes, finishing with a back nine of 29.
I assume his 127 (-17) 36 hole total must be a Championship record.
Matty Lamb's Rd 2 Scorecard (Photo: St Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
Conditions were a little better than anticipated with fewer showers and only modest winds all day. There were numerous low scores once again as the links was left relatively defenceless.
Jake BURNAGE (ENG) recorded the second best round of the day with a 64 (-8) to move into 2nd on -11.
One shot further back are Caolan RAFFERTY (IRE) and Thomas PLUMB (ENG). Rafferty shot a 65 to move himself nicely into the mix whilst Yeovil's Plumb produced a steadier 70. Both players will start the final day on -10.
Caolan Rafferty's Rd 2 Scorecard (Photo: St Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
The top 40 and ties cut fell at 140 (-4) with 40 players progressing to the final day.
Charlie STRICKLAND (ENG) recorded a 66 (-6) on Day 2 to make the cut and deliver the best recovery after his opening 74 (+2).
Colm CAMPBELL (IRE) 68, Ben CHAMBERLAIN (WAL) 68, Casey JARVIS (RSA) 68, David MICHELUZZI (AUS) 66, Joe PAGDIN (ENG) 68, Matt ROBERTS (WAL) 66 and Jamie STEWART (SCO) 68 were amongst those to enjoy good scores today. All went down fighting on the Old Course but had simply left themselves too much to do to make the cut.
Nicklas REGNER (AUT) missed the cut on 142 (-2) although he had the consolation of leaving St Andrews having holed his approach on the Old Course's 18th hole for eagle.
Round 1 was played on the Jubilee Course. With sunny intervals and just a modest breeze blowing the 6,847 yard course was there for the taking. Many of the competitors were happy to oblige particularly on the front nine which played down wind.
Matty LAMB (ENG) and Tom PLUMB (ENG) both recorded 8 under par 64's on Day 1 to set a sparkling pace.
Tom Plumb's Rd 1 Scorecard (Photo: St Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
Alexander FRANCES (DEN), Kyle MICHEL (AUS), Stuart EASTON (SCO), Callum FARR (ENG) and Rowan LESTER (IRE) are all tied 2nd, two shots back of the two leaders, after 66's (-6).
There were two notable shots in Round 1. Ronan MULLARNEY's (IRE) round of 68 (-4) included a hole-in-one on the 192 yard 9th hole while Euan MCINTOSH (SCO) finished his round of 69 in style by holing his approach to the 468 yard 18th.
76 of the 144 players shot an under par score on Day 1 with a further 17 on level par.
36 players scored 69 (-3) or better.
Given the very low scoring today, the forecast of rain for much of tomorrow and the top 40 and ties cut after Round 2 on the Old Course many players will have already played themselves out of the Championship. Ben CHAMBERLAIN (WAL) +3, Wilco NIENABER (RSA) +3, David MICHELUZZI (AUS) +5, Jamie STEWART (SCO) +5 and Matt SAULEZ (RSA) +8 are amongst the more notable names who would appear to have no way back.
144 golfers from 21 different countries will tee off on Friday 7th June in the 31st St. Andrews Links Trophy.
This event has become one of the 'Majors' in men's amateur golf helped by its venue and timing.
The Links Trophy is a 72 hole scratch stroke play competition played over the St. Andrews Links in early June.
The field is primarily determined by reference to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) as at 2nd May 2019 and finished off with various National Golf Union and St. Andrews Links Trust nominations.
This year Round 1 will be played on the Jubilee Course – the New Course was used last year – with Round 2 on the Old Course.
Following a top 40 and ties cut on Saturday the leading players will play a final 36 holes on the Old Course on Sunday.
The Jubilee Course plays 6,742 yards to a par of 72. The front nine is 3,238 yards long with a par of 36 whilst the tougher back nine is 266 yards longer but to the same par.
The winner will be the player who returns the lowest 72 hole aggregate score.
In the event of a tie a sudden death play-off will be held over holes 1 and 18 on the Old Course.
Ties for other places will be decided by the lowest score for the last 18 holes or the last 9 or 6 or 3 or 2 or 1 hole if necessary.
Click here to view the – 2019 St Andrews Links Trophy Rd 1 and Rd 2 Tee Times
The Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking (SPWAR) placed the Links Trophy 7th in its 2018 Amateur Tournament Ranking based on the strength of it's field. It was 8th in the same ranking in 2017.
22 of the 26 members of the 2019 GB&I Walker Cup Squad will be competing at St. Andrews this week.
From the Squad leading contenders Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG), Bailey GILL (ENG), Harry HALL (ENG), Ben JONES (ENG), Josh MCMAHON (ENG), Tom PLUMB (ENG), Conor PURCELL (IRE), Caolan RAFFERTY (IRE), Tom SLOMAN (ENG) and Euan WALKER (SCO) will all be looking to cement their places on the GB&I team in front of the watching selectors.
The defending champion John MURPHY (IRE) also returns to Scotland to try and become just the third player to win the Championship twice.
Of the four missing Walker Cup players Sandy SCOTT (SCO) is playing for the International Team at the Arnold Palmer Cup at The Alotian Club in Arkansas whilst Archie DAVIES (WAL), Conor GOUGH (ENG) and Mark POWER (IRE) are all busy with exams.
The attraction of St. Andrews always ensures a strong overseas entry. Blake COLLYER (AUS), Jordan DUMINY (RSA), Adrien DUMONT DE CHASSART (BEL), Mateo FERNANDEZ DE OLIVEIRA (ARG), Falko HANISCH (GER),
Michael HIRMER (GER), Alex HIETALA (FIN), Casey JARVIS (RSA), Jerry JI (NED), Jeong Weon KO (FRA), Charles LARCELET (FRA), Kyle MICHEL (AUS), David MICHELUZZI (AUS), Therion NEL (RSA), Wilco NIENABER (RSA), Yurev PREMLALL (RSA), Matt SAULEZ (RSA), Jayden SCHAPER (RSA), Sam SIMPSON (RSA) and Martin VORSTER (RSA) are amongst the most highly rated international entries.
Weather Forecast (as at Tuesday 4th June)
The current weather forecast appears mixed with rain over the weekend and swirling winds throughout.
Friday 8th June – Sunny Intervals. Wind 13 mph SE. Temp. Max. 14°C / Min 10°C.
Saturday 9th June – Heavy Rain. Wind 11 mph NE. Temp. Max. 13°C / Min 9°C.
Sunday 10th June – Light Rain. Wind 16 mph SW. Temp. Max. 15°C / Min 8°C.
Tee times in Rounds 1 and 2 start at 7.00am and end at 3.10pm so as with any links course the draw could play a big part in proceedings.
In addition to the main prizes The Ian Forbes Memorial Cup is awarded for the best aggregate score on the first two days of the Championship.
2018 St. Andrews Links Trophy
John MURPHY (IRE) beat Jannik DE BRUYN (GER) on the first play-off hole to win the 2018 St. Andrews Links Trophy.
John became the third Irish golfer to win the title following in the footsteps of Alan Dunbar (2009) and Conor O'Rourke (2016).
Both players completed the 72 holes in 278 shots (-9). De Bruyn fired a final round 68 on the Old Course to force the play-off.
John Murphy (Photo: St. Andrews Links Trust / Kenny Smith Photography)
Jake BURNAGE (ENG) and Haydn BARRON (AUS) finished tied 3rd on 279 (-8), just one shot back.
The two other leading GB&I players were Laird SHEPHERD (ENG) who tied 5th on 280 (-7) and Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) whose 281 (-6) total was good enough for tied 8th.
Click here to view the – 2018 St. Andrews Links Trophy Results
Matthew JORDAN (ENG) won in 2017. Click here to view the – 2017 St. Andrews Links Trophy Results
Conor O'ROURKE (IRE) won in 2016. Click here to view the – 2016 St. Andrews Links Trophy Results
Click here to view a full list of the – St Andrews Links Trophy Past Winners
Only Craig WATSON (1992 and 1998), the Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) Walker Cup captain, and Barclay HOWARD (1994 and 1996) have won the title twice.
The most famous winner is Justin ROSE who won in 1997.
Interestingly given the normally cosmopolitan nature of the fields the Links Trophy has only been won by players from outside GB&I on three occasions – Australia's Stuart BOVIER (1990), Daan HUIZING from The Netherlands (2012) and Federico ZUCCHETTI from Italy (2015).
Huizing, who had won the 2012 Lytham Trophy by 11 shots just a few weeks earlier, set a scoring record of -23 in 2012 (65 New, 64, 68 and 67 all Old) and won by an astonishing 14 shots.
Posted in St Andrews Links Trophy	| Tagged Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Alex Fitzpatrick, Alex Hietala, Bailey Gill, Ben Jones, Blake Collyer, Caolan Rafferty, Casey Jarvis, Charles Larcelet, Conor Purcell, Daniel Hillier, David Micheluzzi, Euan Walker, Falko Hanisch, Harry Hall, Jannik De Bruyn, Jayden Schaper, Jeong Weon Ko, Jerry Ji, John Murphy, Jordan Duminy, Josh McMahon, Jubilee Course, Kyle Michel, Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, Matt Saulez, Michael Hirmer, Old Course, Sam Simpson, St Andrews Links Trophy, Therion Nel, Tom Plumb, Tom Sloman, Wilco Nienaber, Yurev Premiall | Leave a comment
Saturday 23rd June 2018
Jovan REBULA (RSA) is the 2018 Amateur champion.
Jovan Rebula (Photo: The R&A / Mark Runnacles / Getty Images)
He is the first South African winner since Bobby Cole in 1966 and can now look forward to playing in the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie Links, the 2019 Masters at Augusta National and the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
He beat Robin DAWSON, 22, (IRE) 3&2 in today's 36 hole Final at Royal Aberdeen G.C.
Following his win 20 year old Jovan spoke to The R&A: "It's unreal. It's really something that is hard to describe. I feel like many have been in this position before but its an unreal feeling. It hasn't sunk in quite yet but hopefully tomorrow morning I can wake up and I will feel a little different.
"I'm shattered. It's been a long week and especially today. I should have finished maybe a couple of holes earlier, but it's been awesome. A very tiring week. I'm standing here right now and there's so much adrenaline pumping through me.
"I had my friend Matt (Saulez) on the bag and he has been unbelievable for me this week. He's been the foundation to me, keeping me calm, and we just have an awesome time out there. It's just so much fun."
It was cloudy with a modest north westerly breeze blowing when the morning round started at 8.30am; conditions which remained throughout the day, save for a slight increase in the wind speed later in the day.
Here's The R&A film of the opening tee shots.
That special feeling when your name is called to the tee for the 123rd Amateur Championship Final 🙌🏻
We are underway with @JovanRebula and @dawson_robin fighting it out for one of the biggest prizes in amateur golf.
Hole-by-hole scoring here 🖥 https://t.co/vJUi3BVAal pic.twitter.com/YOsjrmFth2
— The R&A (@RandA) June 23, 2018
Both players made a steady start halving the first five holes. The South African then birdied 6 before being gifted 7 and 8 when Dawson bogeyed. The remainder of the morning round was up and down with Rebula eventually taking a 1-Up lead into lunch.
A poor front nine in the afternoon round by Dawson allowed Rebula to extend his lead to 5-Up by the turn. Both players settled and halved the opening three holes of the back nine in par. Then the nerves seemed to kick in particularly for the South African whose mind may have started to wander given his strong position. Double bogeys on the 13th and 15th gave Dawson some encouragement.
However, hopes of a big turnaround over the last few holes like last year were quickly extinguished on 16 when Rebula got up and down from a green side bunker to close out the match 3&2.
Another deadly trap shot on 16 for @JovanRebula to set up a winning putt in #TheAmateur at Royal Aberdeen… can the #golfrsanationalsquad player close the door on Robin Dawson this time?#golfrsa @EEandFF pic.twitter.com/p5OJ1LzxCa
— GolfRSA (@GolfRSA) June 23, 2018
Here are the full hole by hole scores from today's Final.
Jovan Rebula v. Robin Dawson Final Scoreboard (Photo: R&A / Golfbox Scoring)
Click here to view the – 2018 Amateur Championship Final Scores
With Wilco NIENABER also winning the Stroke Play Qualifying the Championship proved to be a very successful one for the South African's.
It was the fifth time a South African had made the Final but just the second time they had claimed the Gold Medal: –
2014 – Zander Lombard Lost 2&1
1997 – Trevor Immelman Lost 3&2
1988 – Ben Fouchee Lost 1 Hole
1980 – David Suddards Lost 4&3
1966 – Bobby Cole Won 3&2
It wasn't long before his Uncle Ernie passed on his congratulations to Jovan too.
@JovanRebula You #Legend for winning the Amateur Championship First time since 1966 SA player WON! My man! Jovan ✌✌✌✌
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) June 23, 2018
Playing conditions proved to be far more amenable today. Whilst cloudy, with temperatures struggling to rise above 13°C, the north westerly wind was much more manageable at 15mph.
Jovan REBULA (RSA) beat Mitch WAITE (ENG) 6&4. Waite has enjoyed a very good year and Championship but like compatriot Tom Sloman this morning was unable to find his game in this afternoon's semi final. Rebula was again not made to work very hard for his victory.
Rebula, the 20 year old nephew of Ernie Els, plays for Auburn University in Alabama and finished tied 21st in the NCAA Division I Men's Championship in late May. He joined up with the South African touring party for the recent St. Andrews Links Trophy but missed the cut by 1-shot.
Speaking to The R&A afterwards Jovan said: "My game was really solid and I kept the ball in play all day. I took advantage on the holes you need to attack, played it clever out there and I've got a good feel of the golf course at this stage. I'm honestly having so much fun. I'm not even looking at my opponents beforehand. I just take it easy and spend time with my mates. They've been a great support structure. Also, they keep me motivated and it's awesome having one of my good friends (Matt Saulez) on the bag too. I've been working hard towards this so being able to reach the final is such a big thing and hopefully I can take it a step further tomorrow."
Tomorrow he will play Robin DAWSON in the 36 hole Final over the Balgownie Links at Royal Aberdeen G.C., their match starting at 8.30am.
Dawson was too good for Conor PURCELL this afternoon winning 3&2. Purcell handed Dawson the initiative with bogeys on the 1st and 3rd and despite fighting all the way to the end couldn't get close to his fellow Irishman.
Speaking to The R&A afterwards Robin said:"It feels good. I'm somewhat relieved to make it this far and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'm a bit tired now so it'll be good to get a good sleep tonight and get set for tomorrow. Today was great but it wasn't easy (playing against fellow countrymen). They are both good friends of mine from being in Ireland teams in the past but we had a couple of good friendly matches out there today. It was nice. I had a good strategy in place and was just hitting decent shots. My swing was good and I was in my own little world at times out there, which was great. To get the chance to play in one major, never mind three, is great. I would love that opportunity but there is still a lot of golf to play tomorrow."
Dropping very few shots in his two matches today Robin should go in to the Final with great confidence. The winner of the Irish Amateur in May is seemingly in complete control of his game.
Click here to view the – 2018 Amateur Championship Semi Final Results
The Quarter Finals started at 8.15am with Tom SLOMAN (ENG) taking on Jovan REBULA (RSA) in Match 1. Unfortunately it proved to be a game too far for Sloman who will be disappointed that he didn't make the South African work harder for his 2&1 victory. Neither player was at their best this morning in a poor quality affair.
England's other quarter finalist Mitch WAITE faired better beating Christoffer PÅLSSON (SWE) 3&2. As is becoming the norm for Waite it was far from straight forward. He was 3-Up after 7, before slipping to AS after 12 and then recovering to win comfortably on the 16th.
Conor PURCELL recorded an eagle and 4 birdies in a great 3&2 win over David MICHELUZZI (AUS). Micheluzzi, the highest ranked player left in the field, was simply unable to live with the Irishman's superb play in the middle of their match.
In perhaps the highest quality Quarter Final Robin DAWSON overcame fellow Irishman John MURPHY 2&1. The Waterford man had the upper hand throughout but was certainly made to work hard for the win.
Click here to view the – 2018 Amateur Championship Quarter Final Results
It was a dry but cool day in Aberdeen, temperatures not rising much above 13°C. The wind was the big story. Like yesterday it was primarily from the north west but today it consistently blew at 25mph with occasional gusts reported of up to 45mph.
This made playing conditions particularly challenging. With hole-by-hole scoring now available (click the score or result in the middle of each game to reveal) it was clear to see how tough the links played today.
Round 4 proved to be the end of the line for Wilco NIENABER (RSA). In a tight match where neither player led by more than 1 hole Tom SLOMAN (ENG) was handed a 1-Up win when the 18 year old South African missed a relatively short par putt on the last hole.
Fellow South African Jovan REBULA was behind for virtually all of his match before two bogeys on the last two holes by Ben HUTCHINSON ensured there would be Boks representation in the Quarter Finals. Rebula won by 1 hole.
Match 3 arguably proved to be the most exciting in the last 16 with Bristol's Mitch WAITE attempting to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory before thankfully saving the day against Timo VAHLENKAMP. As you can see from the scorecard below the German made a strong comeback over the last 8 holes but a three putt on the 19th meant it was all in vein.
Mitch Waite v. Timo Vahlenkamp Rd 4 Scoreboard (Photo: R&A / Golfbox Scoring)
Christoffer PÅLSSON (SWE) again didn't have to work very hard to progress. Luca FILIPPI (RSA) struggled this afternoon and easily fell to a 4&3 defeat.
Conor PURCELL (IRE) was the first of three Irish to make the last 8 at The Amateur Championship. The Charlotte 49ers via Dublin golfer reeled off five birdies in 6 holes from the 11th to blow away Adam BLOMMÉ (SWE).
Robin DAWSON was next up. He beat Elis SVÄRD 6&5 as the relatively inexperienced Swede finally bowed out having enjoyed a very good Championship.
John MURPHY, who seems to have transformed himself into a world beater in the last two weeks, was the third Irishman to make it through to the Quarter Finals. He beat a clearly out of sorts Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) 6&5.
Murphy talking to The R&A afterwards said: "I feel a lot more confident coming off the back of winning the St. Andrews Links Trophy. I feel I can win against the top ranked players in the world and I don't think I would have felt that way without the victory last week. I'm feeling good and every part of my game is clicking. I was the 14th Reserve so when I got the call to say I was playing here at Balgownie I was delighted."
There were a number of one sided matches this afternoon as perhaps the physical and mental exertions of the last four days started to affect some of the remaining competitors.
In the other last 16 game David MICHELUZZI played well to beat Paul PEREDA (MEX) 5&4. The experienced Australian seems to be making very comfortable progress, largely under the radar, and must now be one of the favourites for the title.
The highlight of this morning's golf was the final match, played between relatively unknown Tom FORSTER (ENG) and WAGR Number 5 Viktor HOVLAND (NOR).
Forster, who is studying in the USA at NCAA Division II college Carson-Newman, is clearly not a respecter of reputations as he gave Hovland, one of the star players at Oklahoma State, the 2018 NCAA Division I champions, a game to remember.
Tom Forster v. Viktor Hovland Rd 3 Scoreboard (Photo: R&A / Golfbox Scoring)
As you can see from the above scoreboard Forster led 4-Up after 13 holes, Hovland in all kinds of trouble in the wind. Thankfully the Norwegian recovered his senses just in time and with a little help from an increasingly nervous Forster escaped with a 1 hole victory.
Round 3 started at 7.30am with Wilco NIENABER (RSA) playing US-based Perry COHEN (SUI) in Match 1. The stroke play medalist started well and quickly built a 3-Up lead after 8 holes. However, some loose play around the turn and improvement by Cohen saw the match All Square with just the 18th to play. In the end a par down the last was good enough to secure the win for the South African protégé.
Tom SLOMAN (ENG) enjoyed a tight match with Jeff WRIGHT (SCO). A bogey on the 17th by the battling Scotsman finally letting in the big man from Somerset, who would hold on down the last for a 1 hole win.
Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG) overcame Rowan LESTER 2&1 in Match 3. The Irishman was leading 1-Up after 15 but sadly stumbled down the last 3 holes.
Ben JONES (ENG) had an horrific start in his match and was quickly 5-Down to Timo VAHLENKAMP after just 7 holes. The German youngster ran out a surprisingly easy winner 7&5 in the end.
Mitch WAITE (ENG) beat Stuart EASTON (SCO) by 1 hole in a rollercoaster match. Waite was 2-Up after 4 before then falling 3-Down after 11. Easton then lost his way, recording four bogeys in a row, allowing the man from Bristol to pull 1-Up after 15. Both players then steadied themselves before halving the last in double-bogey 6, Waite moving on.
James SUGRUE (IRE) lost 3&2 to Christoffer PÅLSSON (SWE) in what appears to have been a poor quality Match 7. The Irishman bogeyed or failed to finish 11 of the 16 holes contested.
Matthew JORDAN (ENG) looked comfortable early on against Conor PURCELL (IRE) but let things slip. Purcell, who plays out of Portmarnock, the 2019 host course, drew level after Jordan bogeyed the 18th and then completed the coup de grâce with a 40 foot chip in on their first extra hole.
Scotland bowed out of the Championship later in the morning when their remaining player Sandy SCOTT lost 3&1 to Mexico's Paul PEREDA.
Match 13 saw Robin DAWSON (IRE) take on Spain's Victor PASTOR. Dawson struggled on the front nine but played the back nine superbly in 3-under to run out the winner by 2 holes.
In a very similar match Dawson's compatriot John MURPHY played the back nine very well to overcome Lee WALKER (USA) 4&2 having earlier been 2-Down after 8 holes.
Jovan REBULA (1 Hole) and Luca FILIPPI (4&3) were the winners in the two all-South African matches beating Malcolm MITCHELL and Therion NEL respectively.
There were also wins for Adam BLOMMÉ (SWE), the ever impressive Australian David MICHELUZZI and giant killer Elis SVÄRD (SWE).
At the end of the morning our 14 GB&I players had been reduced to just 6.
Wilco NIENABER (RSA) started his Round 2 match against Niclas WEILAND at 9.15am. Showing no signs of faltering, as often happens with the medalist, he quickly despatched the Swede 5&4.
Malcolm MITCHELL (RSA), David MICHELUZZI (AUS), Paul PEREDA (MEX) and Victor HOVLAND (NOR) are amongst the other highly ranked overseas players who are through to Round 3. However, it was a surprise to see Lorenzo SCALISE (ITA) lose, albeit he took Adam BLOMMÉ (SWE) to the 21st in the longest match of the Championship so far.
GB&I contributed 26 players to the 64 that started Round 2. We finished the day down to 14.
The Irish party are doing well. Rowan LESTER will be pleased with his performance; he beat fellow St. Andrews Trophy squad member David HAGUE (ENG) 6&5. James SUGRUE beat Australian Kyle MICHEL on the 19th hole whilst Conor PURCELL overcame Pablo RODRIGUEZ-TABERNERO TORRES (ESP) 2&1 to progress. Robin DAWSON took control of his match against David RAVETTO (FRA) from the start and ran out a comfortable 4&2 winner. Finally, John MURPHY made it 5 for the 'Green Army' coming from being behind early on to beat Oliver FARRELL (ENG) 4&2.
Scotland have three representatives in Round 3. Jeff WRIGHT showed great determination to take out compatriot Euan MCINTOSH on their first extra hole; Euan having qualified strongly and played well for most of this match too. Stuart EASTON beat Australian Will HEFFERNAN by 1 hole before Sandy SCOTT took care of Claudio CONSOL (GER) 3&2.
Of the 13 Round 1 winners just four could do the business again. One of these was Thomas FORSTER who surprised Daniel HILLIER (NZE) 2&1. The Englishman was joined by Tom SLOMAN, who beat Jediah MORGAN (AUS) by 1 hole, and Mitch WAITE, who enjoyed the biggest win of the afternoon, 6&4 against German Alexander HERRMANN. Wins for Ben HUTCHINSON, Ben JONES and Matthew JORDAN took the English qualifiers up to 6. Hutchinson beat Jamie LI (ENG) 5&3, Jones recorded a good 2 holes win against Matt SAULEZ (RSA) whilst Jordan ended up having to go to the 20th to finally despatch Finland's battling Matias HONKALA.
The Amateur Championship Trophy (Photo: Dominik Holyer)
Game 1 of the Match Play Stage between Eetu ISOMETSÄ (FIN) and Robin WILLIAMS (ENG) teed off at Royal Aberdeen G.C. at 7.00am. It was raining, with a north westerly wind appearing for the first time.
It was a game that Williams would disappointingly go on to lose 3&2.
Of the 30 qualifying GB&I players 8 were required to play in this preliminary Round 1 which consisted of 13 matches.
John PATERSON (SCO), Jack COPE (ENG), Oliver FARRELL (ENG) and Thomas FORSTER (ENG) were successful with the last three all requiring extra holes to overcome stubborn opponents. Cope ended up beating compatriot Max O'HAGAN, who had led for much of their match, on the 20th hole.
Callan BARROW (ENG) lost 4&3 to Top 100 SPWAR ranked Mexican Paul PEREDA.
Australia-based Scot Robbie MORRISON lost by 1 hole to experienced German Claudio CONSUL.
The 13 winners of these Round 1 matches fed into the bottom of the Round 2 draw and would therefore be required to play again in the afternoon.
The rest of the field will certainly have been pleased to see Takumi KANAYA (JAP), Alvaro ORTIZ (MEX) and Matias SANCHEZ (AUS) all surprisingly fall at this first step.
18 year old Wilco NIENABER (RSA) shot a 67 (-4) at Royal Aberdeen G.C. today to secure medalist honours at the 2018 Amateur Championship. His impressive 133 (-8) total included 11 birdies and just three bogeys.
Wilco Nienaber's Stroke Play Scores (Photo: R&A / Golfbox)
In an interview quoted on The R&A website Wilco said: "When I heard I was going to play The Amateur Championship this year I was really excited. To finish at the top after the qualifying is great. I made good decisions from the tee, stuck to my game plan and hit the greens. When I missed a green I got up and down – I kept the momentum going and didn't really make a lot of bogeys. The match play stage is a different game but winning this or finishing at the top makes me feel like I can beat the other guys, which is really nice. So we will see what happens this week."
Watch Wilco's interview with GolfWeek's Alistair Tait after the stroke play qualifying prize presentation: –
Listen to South Africa's number one ranked Wilco Nienaber chat to the Scottish press after going wire-to-wire to win the stroke play qualifier for the 123rd Amateur Championship.https://t.co/1c5WcqEKWZ
Two shots further back was Victor HOVLAND (NOR) who finished second in the stroke play qualifying on 135 (-6). Hovland shot a 65 (-5) at Murcar Links today, the best score on this course over the two days.
Sam MEEK (CAN), who recorded rounds of 69 and 69 for a 138 (-3) total, finished third to claim the final stroke play qualifying prize.
MATT SAULEZ (RSA) and Blake WINDRED (AUS) joined Wilco in shooting 67 at Royal Aberdeen today. This was the best score at the lead host course during the stroke play stage.
Harry HALL (ENG) recorded a second successive 70 today to finish on 140 (-1). His tied 5th result was the best of all of the GB&I players in the field.
Ben HUTCHINSON (ENG) Ev and Mitch WAITE (ENG) +1 finished 8th and tied 9th respectively.
At the end of play the top 64 and ties match play cut fell at +6 with 77 players progressing.
There were 30 GB&I qualifiers in total including 2018 winners John MURPHY (IRE) +2, Matthew JORDAN (ENG) +3, Robin DAWSON (IRE) +3 and Billy MCKENZIE (ENG) +4.
With the wind dropping on Day 2 and the sun shining for the most part the scores were much improved. Murcar Links (par 70) saw it's average score drop to 73.94 from yesterday's 77.30 (-3.36) whilst Royal Aberdeen's (par 71) fell from 76.86 to 73.98 (-2.88). Clearly those that played at the tougher Murcar Links yesterday had a slight disadvantage over the two days of qualifying.
Amongst the leading players to miss out were Joe PAGDIN (ENG) +7, Dylan PERRY (AUS) +7, Andrew WILSON (ENG) +7, Calum FYFE (SCO) +8, Euan WALKER (SCO) +8, John AXELSON (DEN) +8, Angel HIDALGO (ESP) +8, Christo LAMPRECHT (RSA) +8, Clayton MANSFIELD (RSA) +9, Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) +9, Sam LOCKE (SCO) +9, Nick POPPLETON (ENG) +9, Alex GLEESON (IRE) +10, Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) +10, Jake BURNAGE (ENG) +11, Caolan RAFFERTY (IRE) +13, Bailey GILL (ENG) +14, Jamie STEWART (SCO) +16, Garrick HIGGO (RSA) +17, Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) +17 and John PAK (USA) +18.
Wilco NIENABER (RSA) shot a 66 (-4) at Murcar Links to lead the 36 hole Stroke Play Qualifying after Round 1 of the 123rd Amateur Championship.
David MICHELUZZI (AUS) and Sam MEEK (CAN) are second having both posted 69's (-2), the best round of the day, at Royal Aberdeen G.C.
Laird SHEPHERD (ENG) was the only GB&I player to post an under par score; his 69 (-1) at Murcar Links leaving him in tied 4th place.
Euan MCINTOSH (SCO), who hit the first tee shot at Royal Aberdeen at 7.00am this morning, shot 71 (Ev) and finished the day tied 7th alongside Harry HALL (ENG) whose 70 (Ev) at Murcar Links looked like being much better for most of his round.
On a windy but sunny day in Scotland the average score was higher at Murcar Links (77.30 / +7.30 in relation to par) than at Royal Aberdeen (76.86 / +5.86).
After 18 holes there are 60 players on +3 or better, with a further 31 on +4, implying that the top 64 and ties cut will be around +7.
The final stroke play round will start at 7.00am tomorrow morning with each competitor playing on the other host course.
Unsurprisingly Chun An YU (CTP), who played the first two rounds of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, has withdrawn from this year's Amateur Championship.
Other late withdrawals include William BUHL (USA), Falko HANISCH (GER) – winner of the 2016 Boys' Amateur Championship at Muirfield -, Noah COMBS (USA), Yuxin LIN (CHN), Zach MURRAY (AUS) and Raphael GEISSLER (GER).
Click here to view the final – 2018 Amateur Championship Stroke Play Draw
The 123rd Amateur Championship starts on Monday 18th June at Royal Aberdeen G.C. and Murcar Links G.C. in north east Scotland.
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Photo: Royal Aberdeen G.C.)
288 players will play two stroke play qualifying rounds, one round on each course, on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th June.
As in previous years tee times will commence at 7.00am and end at 3.52pm on both days.
The 64 players with the lowest 36 hole scores, and ties for 64th place, will advance to the match play stage and be seeded in line with their qualifying finishes.
The match play games will be played solely at Royal Aberdeen between Wednesday 20th and Saturday 23rd June.
Matches will be played over 18 holes except for Saturday's Final which will be over 36 holes.
5th hole, Murcar Links Golf Club (Photo: Albrecht Golf Guide)
The 288 players are drawn firstly from a number of exempt categories covering R&A and U.S.G.A. Championship performances and representative teams. Thereafter places are allocated to those players ranked 1st – 2,000th in the WAGR as at 16th May 2018 and, if required, by reference to exact handicaps.
Players from 38 different countries will contest the 2018 Amateur Championship.
Outside of the home nations the best represented countries are France (31 players), U.S.A. (23), Australia (20), Germany (14), Spain (13), Sweden (13), South Africa (10), The Netherlands (9) and Italy (8).
Whilst there are a large number of Americans playing it sadly remains the case that the vast majority of their leading players continue to skip the Championship. It is a sad state of affairs that most of them prefer to play in the Northeast Amateur Invitational at Wannamoisett C.C. in Providence, Rhode island – an event that starts on Wednesday 20th June. Without their participation The Amateur will always lack a little something despite the Major exemptions on offer. The best American this year is John PAK (SPWAR 52).
Harry ELLIS, the defending champion, has not entered the Championship. He has been playing in the U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills this week and is expected to turn pro immediately afterwards. Last year's runner up Dylan PERRY (AUS) is back for another go at claiming the title that eluded him last year.
KristofferREITAN (NOR) 40 and Ryan LUMSDEN (SCO) 51 had both entered the Championship but both withdrew when they qualified for the U.S. Open. Chun An YU (CTP) 28 is also currently playing in New York but remains entered. It will be interesting to see if he is at Murcar Links on Monday for his 1.02pm tee time. Good on him if he is.
Looking at the the current SPWAR top 50 the leading players, in addition to Yu, competing are Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) 9, Matthew JORDAN (ENG) 12, Christo LAMPRECHT (RSA) 17, Garrick HIGGO (RSA) 24, Wilco NIENABER (RSA) 26, Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) 27, Matt SAULEZ (RSA) 29, Lorenzo SCALISE (ITA) 31, David MICHELUZZI (AUS) 33, Joey SAVOIE (CAN) 37, Malcom MITCHELL (RSA) 42 and Alvaro ORTIZ (MEX) 45.
From a GB&I perspective Robin DAWSON (IRE) 57, Jake BURNAGE (ENG) 67, Harry HALL (ENG) 68, Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) 73, David HAGUE (ENG) T74, Alex GLEESON (IRE) T74, Caolan RAFFERTY (IRE) 91, Laird SHEPHERD (ENG) 95, Sandy SCOTT (SCO) 115, Ben JONES (ENG) 124, Andrew WILSON (ENG) 128, John MURPHY (IRE) 145, Bailey GILL (ENG) 177, Tom SLOMAN (ENG) 189 and Nick POPPLETON (ENG) 194 will all arrive with high hopes given their current good form.
With the nine-man GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team due to be announced in mid-July a good Amateur Championship by any of the home players will undoubtedly resonate with the selectors.
Finally, Spain's Alejandro LARRAZABEL is an interesting entry. Alejandro won The Amateur in 2002 at Royal Porthcawl G.C. and has recently been reinstated to the amateur game. He will be the only past winner in the field.
For the first time in it's history the Amateur Championship is being staged at Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links in Scotland.
Royal Aberdeen was founded in 1780 and is the 6th oldest golf club in the world. Originally known as The Society of Golfers at Aberdeen the club's name was changed in 1815 to Aberdeen Golf Club. In 1903 the 'Royal' title was conferred on the club by His Majesty King Edward VII.
The club has hosted many prestigious championships, including seven Scottish Amateurs, two Boys' Amateur Championships, the Boys' Jacques Léglise Trophy and perhaps most memorably the 2011 Walker Cup, when GB&I defeated the United States by a single point.
In 2005, it hosted the Senior Open which was won by five-time Open champion Tom Watson. In 2014, the Scottish Open was held there for the first time with Justin Rose coming out on top.
Royal Aberdeen – Balgownie Links Indicative Scorecard (Photo: mygolfdays.com)
The Balgownie Links at Royal Aberdeen is a classic links with the outgoing holes played through the undulating dunes on the coast before the return on an inland plateau with numerous blind shots and hidden ditches coming into play.
Neighbouring Murcar Link's was established in 1909 and lies to the north of the Royal Aberdeen course.
Murcar hosted the inaugural Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play competition on the European Tour in 2016. Previously it had staged the European Girls Team Championship (2009), the Scottish Amateur Stroke Play (2009) and the European Boys Team Championship (2013).
Murcar Links Indicative Scorecard (Photo: mygolfdays.com)
Weather Forecast (last updated Sunday 17th June)
The weather forecast looks good, with very little rain and a consistent and south westerly wind expected: –
Mon 18th June – Sunny. Wind 17 mph SW. Temp. Max. 17°C / Min 7°C.
Tue 19th June – Sunny. Wind 15mph SW. Temp. Max. 16°C / Min 10°C.
Wed 20th June – Showers. Wind 11mph W. Temp. Max. 13°C / Min 8°C.
Thu 21st June – Light Cloud. Wind 15mph NW. Temp. Max. 14°C / Min 9°C.
Fri 22nd June – Light Cloud. Wind 10mph SW. Temp. Max. 14°C / Min 10°C.
Sat 23rd June – Light Cloud. Wind 11mph SW. Temp. Max. 16°C / Min 11°C.
Click here to view the – Latest BBC Weather Forecast For Aberdeen
Players will tee off throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday so changes in the weather and wind speed early in the week may impact the stroke play qualifying scoring.
A momento is presented by The R&A to the players finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the stroke play qualifying competition, with any ties determined by a second round count back.
The winner of the match play stage will become the Champion Amateur Golfer for the year and is awarded the Championship Trophy and a Gold Medal. The runner-up receives a Silver Medal and each losing semi-finalist a Bronze Medal.
The winner of The Amateur Championship will be exempt into next month's 147th Open Championship down the coast at Carnoustie Golf Links.
Traditionally, the champion is also invited to compete in the following year's Masters Tournament at Augusta National G.C.
Finally, they will also be exempt into the 2019 U.S. Open Championship which is being held at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.
England's Harry ELLIS won the 2017 Amateur Championship on the 38th hole at Royal St. George's G.C.
4 Down with five holes to play the odds were well and truly against the then 21 year old Hampshire player. However, his opponent Dylan PERRY (AUS) bogeyed four of the last five holes to let Ellis back in.
Harry Ellis (Photo: @RandA / Getty Images)
Following in the footsteps of fellow Hampshire player Scott Gregory, Ellis said in his post round press conference: "I can't believe what I have just done but you should never give up and never give in. I just kept giving myself chances down the stretch and luckily played much better than I had all day. It has always been a dream to play in Majors and I get to play in three now. My game is in a good place so hopefully I can do something ."
Click here to view the – 2017 Amateur Championship Match Play Results
The Amateur Championship was first played in April 1885 at Royal Liverpool G.C. Allan Macfie (SCO) was the first champion beating Horace Hutchinson (ENG) 7&6 in the Final.
Up until the Second World War it was a hugely prestigious event and in many of these early years was afforded a much higher standing in the game than The Open. Players like Johnny Ball (ENG), Harold Hilton (ENG) and Freddie Tait (SCO) were all amateurs and as good if not better than most of the professionals of the day.
Prior to Ellis' win in 2017 the last 10 winners of The Amateur Championship have been: –
2016 Scott Gregory (ENG) – Royal Porthcawl GC
A great achievement and honour for all of the players listed above. However, it's also another reminder of how incredibly tough golf is and that wins in the biggest events are no guarantee of success in the professional game.
Posted in Amateur Championship	| Tagged Alex Gleeson, Alvaro Ortiz, Amateur Championship, Andrew Wilson, Austin Eckroat, Bailey Gill, Ben Jones, Caolan Rafferty, Christo Lamprecht, Chun An Yu, David Hague, David Micheluzzi, Dylan Perry, Garrick Higgo, Gian-Marco Petrozzi, Harry Ellis, Jake Burnage, Joey Savoie, John Murphy, John Pak, Kristoffer Reitan, Laird Shepherd, Lorenzo Scalise, Malcom Mitchell, Matt Saulez, Matthew Jordan, Murcar Links, Nick Poppleton, Robin Dawson, Royal Aberdeen, Ryan Lumsden, Sandy Scott, The R&A, Todd Clements, Tom Sloman, Viktor Hovland, Wilco Nienaber | Leave a comment
John becomes the third Irish golfer to win the title following in the footsteps of Alan Dunbar (2009) and Conor O'Rourke (2016).
Murphy looked second favourite after his approach to the 1st hole on the Old Course ended up 25 feet away after De Bruyn had left himself just 6 feet. However, the Irishman sank his birdie putt and perhaps unsurprisingly in the circumstances the German was unable to match him.
The St. Andrews Links Trust tweeted a video of the winning putt with a short interview with their winner.
John Murphy won a dramatic sudden death play off in style to be Links Trophy Champion 2018. He also tried to tell us all about it, despite the local pipe band trying to drown him out to the side of the Swilcan Bridge!#LinksTrophy @John_murphy5 pic.twitter.com/JSJNyfgg5n
— St Andrews Links (@TheHomeofGolf) June 10, 2018
This was a great win for the man from Kinsale who has just completed his sophomore year at University of Louisville in the United States. He rose to 143rd in the SPWAR, jumping 616 places, as reward for the biggest win of his career.
Here are the full – 2018 St. Andrews Links Trophy Results
Round 4 started at 12 noon with the leaders setting off at 2.56pm.
Jannik DE BRUYN (GER) shot the best final round, his second 68 of the day. Whilst his morning round had included two bogeys this afternoon he produced a clean card with four birdies. He posted 278 (-9) and waited patiently in the clubhouse to see if it would hold up.
Jannik De Bruyn Round 4 Scorecard (Photo: St. Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
John MURPHY (IRE) also recorded the same score as he did in the morning. His 71 meant he was the only player to catch De Bruyn on -9 and that a play-off would be required to decide the winner.
Jake BURNAGE (ENG) shot final day rounds of 70 and 69 to finish tied 3rd with Haydn BARRON (AUS) on 279 (-8), just one shot back.
Englishman Burnage was bogey free in the afternoon but his morning 70 was something of a rollercoaster. Without wishing to be dismissive of his seven birdies it included, with the benefit of hindsight, a painful double bogey 6 on 12 and bogeys on 15 and 16. Nevertheless this represented another very good result for the Devonian No. 1 and a welcome return to form. He was the leading GB&I player in one of the world's best amateur events.
Compatriot Laird SHEPHERD finished well with a 70 to secure a tied 5th place result on 280 (-7). Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) was next best for GB&I. His 281 (-6) score was good enough to secure tied 8th.
Round 3 started at 7.00am with Kieran CANTLEY (SCO) going out alone. The two leading players, Laird SHEPHERD (ENG) -8 and John MURPHY (IRE) -7, teed off at 9.56am.
36 holes on the Old Course lay ahead as the 45 qualifying players set out to determine the winner of the 2018 St. Andrews Links Trophy.
Joey SAVOIE (CAN) 67 and John MURPHY (IRE) 71 shared the 54 hole lead on -8.
Overnight leader Laird SHEPHERD (ENG) shot 75, faltering late on with a double bogey on the 15th and a bogey on 17.
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) shot the best third round score. His blemish free 66 included an eagle on the par 5 5th and birdies on 9, 12, 13 and 14.
Sandy Scott's Round 3 Scorecard (Photo: St. Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
Daniel O'LOUGHLIN (ENG) also shot 67, with defending champion Matthew JORDAN (ENG) and fellow Englishman Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) 68 delivering the next best GB&I scores.
Jannik DE BRUYN (GER) moved up to -6 after a 68 in Round 3.
For those interested here is a link to today's tee times – 2018 St. Andrews Trophy Round 3 and Round 4 Start Sheet
The star of Day 2 was Laird SHEPHERD (ENG). The Stirling University student knows St. Andrews well and demonstrated it around the Old Course today. With a supportive wind on the way out he completed his front 9 in just 30 shots and held it together nicely on the way home. His 65 (-7) helped him move to the top of the 36 hole leaderboard on 135 (-8).
Laird Shepherd's Round 2 Scorecard (Photo: St. Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
There were a number of great rounds today reflecting the generally benign conditions in Fife. John MURPHY (IRE) shot 66, Christo LAMPRECHT (RSA) – winner of the East of Ireland Amateur earlier this week – 67, David HAGUE (ENG) 67, Joey SAVOIE (CAN) 67 and Jamie LI (ENG) 68, all moving into the top 10 as a result.
Stuart EASTON (SCO) 67, Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) 68, Therion NEL (RSA) 68 and Daniel O'LOUGHLIN (ENG) 68 all knew they needed good rounds to make the cut and impressively delivered.
However, the bounceback prize has to go to Joao GIRAO (POR). After a disappointing 80 on the New Course yesterday, from which there was never going to be a way back, he at least went down fighting delivering a 66 which included 7 birdies.
First round leader Olly HUGGINS (ENG) found the going harder today – his 75, and 142 (-1) total, was at least good enough to ensure he made the cut.
The top 40 and ties 36 hole cut eventually fell at even par with 45 players making it through to the final day.
Olly HUGGINS (ENG) leads the St. Andrews Links Trophy after an impressive 67 (-4) on the New Course.
Olly Huggins' Round 1 Scorecard (Photo: St. Andrews Links Trust / Intelligent Golf)
Five players, Matias HONKALA (FIN), Jake BOLTON (ENG), Luca Filippi (RSA), Tom PLUMB (ENG) and Euan WALKER (SCO), shot 68 (-3).
46 players are on Even par or better highlighting how tight the leaderboard is.
This event has become one of the 'Majors' in men's amateur golf helped by venue and timing.
After various National Golf Union and St. Andrews Links Trust nominations the field is determined by World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) as at 3rd May 2018 rather than handicap as is normally the case.
This year Round 1 will be played on the New Course – the Jubilee Course was used last year – with Round 2 on the Old Course.
The New Course plays 6,625 yards to a par of 71. The front nine is 3,270 yards long with a par of 36 whilst the tougher back nine is 85 yards longer but with a par of 35.
New Course Scorecard (Photo: St. Andrews Links Trust)
The 2018 St Andrews Links Trophy start sheets can be viewed here – Round 1 (New) and Round 2 (Old).
18 of the 20 members of the 2018 GB&I St. Andrews Trophy squad will be competing at St. Andrews this week. Harry HALL (ENG) and Ryan LUMSDEN (SCO) are the exceptions; both were competing in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying today in the United States. Many of the Squad have been drawn together in the opening rounds to help the selectors follow their play closely.
The attraction of St. Andrews always ensures a strong overseas entry. Australia, Canada and South Africa are particularly well represented in 2018 with Hugo BERNARD (CAN), Christo LAMPRECHT (RSA), David MICHELUZZI (AUS), Wilco NIENABER (RSA), Dylan PERRY (AUS) and Matt SAULEZ (RSA) all strong challengers.
Weather Forecast (updated on Wednesday 6th June)
The current weather forecast appears perfect for golf – dry with minimal chance of rain.
Friday 8th June – Cloudy. Wind 13 mph E. Temp. Max. 15°C / Min 9°C.
Saturday 9th June – Cloudy. Wind 11 mph E. Temp. Max. 15°C / Min 10°C.
Sunday 10th June – Cloudy. Wind 11 mph E. Temp. Max. 16°C / Min 9°C.
Royal Liverpool's Matthew JORDAN won the 2017 St. Andrews Links Trophy. Following an outstanding run of form the victory almost certainly secured his place in last year's Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) Walker Cup team.
Rounds of 70, 68, 69 and 70 took Matthew to a finishing total of 277 (-11).
J.R. GALBRAITH (IRE) shot 66, 71, 70 and 71 (-10) to secure second place with Ben FERGUSON (AUS) finishing 3rd on -9.
Other GB&I players to finish in the top 10 included Laird SHEPHERD (-8) 4th, David BOOTE (-8) 6th, Liam JOHNSTON (-6) 7th , Gian-Marco PETROZZI (-5) 8th and Jack DAVIDSON (-5) 9th.
Interestingly given the normally cosmopolitan nature of the fields the Links Trophy has only been won by players from outside GB&I on three occasions – Australia's Stuart BOVIER (1990), Daan HUIZING from The Netherlands (2012) and FedericoZUCCHETTI from Italy (2015).
Posted in St Andrews Links Trophy	| Tagged Alex Fitzpatrick, Alex Gleeson, Andrew Wilson, Ben Jones, Billy McKenzie, Calum Fyfe, Caolan Rafferty, David Hague, David Micheluzzi, Dylan Perry, Euan Walker, Gian-Marco Petrozzi, Harry Hall, Hugo Bernard, Jamie Stewart, John Axelsen, Matt Saulez, Matthew Jordan, Robin Dawson, Rowan Lester, Sandy Scott, St Andrews Links Trophy, Todd Clements, Wilco Nienaber | Leave a comment
The Lytham Trophy – 2018 Preview, Reports & Results
Matthew Jordan (ENG) today added the 2018 Lytham Trophy to his impressive amateur golfing c.v. after a superb day's play from him on the challenging Lancashire links.
He started the day with a two shot lead and went on to finish the event with a 9-shot victory. Recording rounds of 67, 69, 70 and 66 – not one of over par – for a 272 total (-8) over three days takes some doing. His nerveless final round of 66 was also the best of the day.
Matthew Jordan's Rd 4 Scorecard (Photo: Royal Lytham GC)
The win initially moved Matthew to 12th in the SPWAR but this quickly became 11th when Dawson Armstrong (USA) announced he was turning pro. He and Todd Clements (18th) are now GB&I's, and for that matter Europe's, leading amateur golfers.
Matthew Jordan (Photo: Angie McGlue)
Backing up his recent Hampshire Salver win Mitch Waite (ENG) finished 2nd with a 281 (+1) total.
Sam Locke (SCO) and David Nyfjall (SWE) finished tied 3rd with a 284 (+4) score. Sam delivered a great 67 in the final round to record the best result of his career to date.
Tom Plumb (ENG) matched Sam's 67 to finish 5th on 285 (+5). Todd Clements (ENG) shot a 68 and Ben Chamberlain (WAL) a 69 on the final afternoon to finish 6th (286 +6) and 7th (287 +7) respectively.
Click here to view the full 2018 Lytham Trophy results – Results
Whilst achieved in completely different manners the three leading players Matthew Jordan (ENG), Mitch Waite (ENG) and David Nyfjall (SWE) all shot even par 70's in the third round to keep the competition very much alive.
The best scores in round 3 came from Andrew Wilson (ENG) and Tiarnan McLarnon (IRE) who both recorded 69's.
Matthew Jordan (ENG) shot a 69 in round 2 of the Lytham Trophy. His 136 total (67 69 / -4) leaves him two shots ahead of the field with 36 holes to be played tomorrow.
Mitch Waite (ENG), winner of the Hampshire Salver a few weeks ago, shot the round of the day matching Billy McKenzie's 66 from yesterday. This lifted him into 2nd place which he shares with Sweden's David Nyfjall, who recorded a second 69.
Mitch Waite's Rd 2 Scorecard (Photo: Royal Lytham GC)
49 players on +7 or better made the top 40 and ties cut. The Round 2 CSS of 76 was the same as on Day 1.
Play will start at 7.00am tomorrow with the leading group teeing off in their 3rd and 4th rounds at 10.12am and 3.15pm respectively.
Billy McKenzie (ENG), winner of the Spanish International Amateur in early March, leads the Lytham Trophy after Round 1.
With playing conditions forecast to be good all weekend lower scoring than normal was expected around the tough Royal Lytham course. Billy didn't disappoint. He teed off at 8.30am and his 66 (-4) set an impressive early target which from the outset looked like it may hold up all day.
To put it in context the CSS for the round was 76 and the lowest round in the whole 2017 competition was a 68 (-2), which Jack Singh Bear also recorded in Round 1.
Billy McKenzie's Rd 1 Scorecard (Photo: Royal Lytham GC)
Matthew Jordan (ENG) is one shot back after a 67 (-3). In a very steady round birdies on 6, 8, 11 and 13 were offset by a single bogey on the difficult 15th, a par 4 playing 464 yards.
Tied for third are Robin Williams (ENG), Sam Locke (SCO) and John Brady (IRE) all of whom posted 68's (-2).
After 18 holes tied 40th place is occupied by 11 players on +3. With warmer weather forecast for today scores should be similar to Day 1 and therefore the cut will probably be in the region of +6.
The 2018 Lytham Trophy will be played on 4th, 5th and 6th May at Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C.
It is the first major event in the Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) men's amateur golf season.
In 2017 the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking (SPWAR) placed it 18th in it's list of worldwide amateur competitions based on field strength. It normally ranks 3rd in GB&I behind the Amateur Championship and the St. Andrews Links Trophy. Coming early in the season it misses out on European players competing for U.S. colleges.
The famous Royal Lytham links course certainly presents a stern test. Playing off the blue championship tees competitors have to meet a 7,118 yard par 70 challenge; the front nine being 3,437 yards, a par 34, and the back nine being 3,681 yards, a par 36.
Like The Open Championship players will tee off between 7.30am and 3.40pm on the Friday and Saturday so changes in the weather and wind speeds throughout the first two days often play a big part in scoring.
144 scratch golfers from 15 diffrent countries will tee off in what will be the 54th playing of this prestigious competition.
View the Draw for Rounds 1 and 2 here – 2018 Lytham Trophy Tee Times
In the event of a tie for the lowest score there is a 3-hole stroke play play-off on holes 1, 2 and 18. If a winner still hasn't been determined then the play-off moves to sudden death over the same holes.
The Winner receives a silver replica of the Lytham Trophy, both of which are shown below.
Most of GB&I's leading amateur golfers will be competing.
Here is a list of the highest ranked players in the field and those showing some early season form (SPWAR rankings as at 29th April): –
Matt SAULEZ (RSA) – SPWAR 23rd
Matt has been building an impressive resume over the last 3 years without delivering a big win. He is currently the highest ranked player in the field.
Malcolm MITCHELL (RSA) – SPWAR 27th
Arrives in the UK on the back of two very solid season's back home.
Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) – SPWAR 28th
The 2017 English Amateur champion has recently finished 2nd in the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School and 1st in the European Nations Cup Individual. He is now GB&I's No. 1 amateur golfer.
Wilco NIENABER (RSA) – SPWAR 32nd
A prolific winner of junior events in South Africa in recent years as well as winner of the Western Province Open Amateur last week. He could very easily be the next Thriston Lawrence (Lytham Trophy 2015) or Kyle McClatchie (Brabazon Trophy 2017).
Finished tied 7th last year before embarking on a great run of form that led to his selection for the 2017 Walker Cup team.
Deon GERMISHUYS (RSA) – SPWAR 51st
A superb win at the 2018 South African Amateur followed up with another at the All Africa Junior Challenge will see Deon arrive in the UK full of confidence.
Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) – SPWAR 78th
Now established as one of GB&I's leading players Gian-Marco won the Welsh Open Amateur in 2017 and the New South Wales Amateur in Australia earlier this year. He was tied 2nd in the European Nations Cup Individual at Sotogrande last weekend.
Won the Lagonda Trophy and North of England Open Amateur in 2017 and has become an important member of the England Men's Squad in 2018.
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRE) – SPWAR 103rd
The medalist at last year's Amateur Championship has finished tied 21st and tied 7th at the last two Lytham Trophies. I am sure he has a big win coming.
Alex GLEESON (IRE) – SPWAR 103rd
Like Alex Robin played well in South Africa and will now be looking for some big performances back home to secure a place in GB&I's St. Andrews Trophy Team.
Clayton MANSFIELD (RSA) – SPWAR 123rd
Won the Cape Province Open earlier this year.
Ben JONES (ENG) – SPWAR 146th
Winner of the U18 Duke of York at nearby Royal Liverpool GC last year and tied 2nd at the Portuguese International Amateur a few weeks ago.
Jake BURNAGE (ENG) – SPWAR 154th
Saunton's Jake finished 3rd at Lytham last year and was recently medalist in the Spanish International Amateur.
Laird SHEPHERD (ENG) – SPWAR 198th
Laird has dominated British University golf this season and has a number of good results on links courses under his belt in recent years.
Billy MCKENZIE (ENG) – SPWAR 203rd
Winner of the 2018 Spanish International Amateur at La Manga.
Callum FARR (ENG) – SPWAR 425th
Recent winner of the Selborne Salver and shared winner of the West of England Amateur at Royal North Devon this weekend.
Mitch WAITE (ENG) – SPWAR 559th
Mitch recently won the Hampshire Hog and Hampshire Salver competitions. His tied 4th place at the 2017 Irish Amateur Open, played at Royal County Down G.C., suggests he has the skills and strategy to cope with the toughest of layouts.
The latest weather forecast (as at Thursday 3rd May) looks great for all three competition days – sunny with no more than a gentle breeze blowing.
Fri 4th May – Cloudy / Wind 9 mph W / Temp. Min. 8°C / Max. 14°C.
Sat 5th May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 8 mph SW / Temp. Min. 7°C / Min 16°C.
Sun 6th May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 8 mph SSW / Temp. Min. 9°C / Max. 19°C.
Hamey and Jack Singh Brar (Photo: Angie McGlue)
Two in form players at the time ran the Hampshire man close; Charlie STRICKLAND finishing second and Jake BURNAGE third.
Click this link to view the 2017 Lytham Trophy – Final Results
Michael BONALLACK – 1965 (s), 1972
George MACGREGOR – 1975
Stephen GALLAGHER – 1995
Stuart WILSON – 2003
(s) = shared
The seven winners prior to Jack SINGH BRAR show just how international the amateur game has become as well as the increasing attraction of the Lytham Trophy beyond these shores: –
Paul CUTLER – 2010 (Ireland)
Jack SENIOR – 2011 (England)
Daan HUIZING – 2012 (The Netherlands)
Albert ECKHARDT – 2013 (Finland)
Thriston LAWRENCE – 2014 (South African
Alfie PLANT – 2016 (England)
Posted in Lytham Trophy	| Tagged Alex Gleeson, Ben Jones, Billy McKenzie, Caolan Rafferty, Clayton Mansfield, David Hague, Deon Germishuys, Gian-Marco Petrozzi, Jake Burnage, Laird Shepherd, Lytham Trophy, Malcolm Mitchell, Matt Saulez, Matthew Jordan, Mitch Waite, Robin Dawson, Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Todd Clements, Wilco Neinaber | 3 Comments


A section of the Lapal Canal has been dug out and its starting to collect water after rain. The next photo (towards Selly Oak) shows a similar view taken a few months earlier before restoration started.
Behind the camera is the building site which will eventually include a through channel to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Selly Oak Junction.


text:
CBD Usage Rising in Japan Despite Drug Taboo
FN Media Group Presents Microsmallcap.com Market Commentary
NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Japan may be known for its zero-tolerance cannabis laws and strong social stigma against the drug, but the sentiment towards CBD is quickly changing. CBD extracted from the seeds or adult stems of the plant is legal and is currently sold in vapes, drinks, and sweets at specialty cafes, health food stores, and even a shop in Tokyo's main airport. Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare is considering approving medical marijuana to treat conditions like severe epilepsy. According to a recent industry report, the Japanese CBD market is expected to become Asia's second-largest CBD market, reaching around US$2.13 billion by 2024. The increasing demand for CBD in Japan opens up opportunities for companies in the hemp and cannabis industry including Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC), Sundial Growers Inc. (NASDAQ:SNDL), Tilray Brands, Inc (TSX:TLRY) (NASDAQ:TLRY), Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB) (TSX:ACB) and HEXO Corp. (TSX:HEXO) (NASDAQ:HEXO).
Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) is a leading all-outdoor cultivator, manufacturer and distributor of cannabis products and brands who operates one of the largest outdoor cannabis cultivation facilities.
On August 15, Flora Growth reported its financial and operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The company reported $14.9 million in revenue for the first half of 2022, a rise of 604% compared to H1 2021 and 117% from H2 2021. Meanwhile, gross profit increased to $7.0 million, an increase of 547% compared to H1 2021 and 363% compared to H2 2021. Flora attributed the growth to its House of Brands, the launch of numerous new brands in the US, and the commencement of sales in its Commercial Wholesale and Life Sciences business.
Some of the H1 2022 highlights from Flora Growth include the acquisition of JustCBD, signing a distribution agreement with Giant OTG Management to provide access to JustCBD products at US airports, increasing its European presence with the opening of a London office, receiving approval to sell JustCBD products on Amazon UK, establishing a brick-and-mortar JustCBD store in the Czech Republic with plans to launch more stores in Germany through its partnership with Greenyard, and acquiring the CBD brand Masaya to expand its Life Sciences business offerings. Flora also completed build out of its all-outdoor cultivation and on-site extraction facility producing distillates and isolates using flower grown at its outdoor operation in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
"We started 2022 with the integration of both Vessel and JustCBD, and despite macro headwinds in the global markets as well as global cannabis regulations, we are extremely pleased with our growth year-to-date. We are also seeing positive movement in our Life Sciences division with progress on the approval of our clinical trials in the United Kingdom and the acquisition of Masaya, a science-backed, high-potency CBD brand," said Luis Merchan, Chairman and CEO of Flora Growth. "We continue to prudently manage our overhead and working capital as we expect to improve profitability going forward. With all three of our core pillars generating revenue in the second half of 2022, continued gross margin expansion and a focus on streamlining operating expenses – we believe we have a path to profitability that few global cannabis companies can achieve in this difficult environment. The execution of our key initiatives is a testament to our team's ability to deliver on plan."
The company also reaffirmed that it expects 2022 revenue guidance to range between $35.0 million – $45.0 million, meaning a projected growth of approximately 300% – 400% compared to 2021.
Earlier this month, Flora Growth announced that it has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with the largest indigenous tribe in Colombia, Pharma Indigena Misak Manasr Sas (Manasr). The pair will be focusing on the development of cultivation best practices, manufacturing, export and marketing of cannabis and cannabis-containing products.
Through the JV, Flora Growth will provide Manasr with technical and business support related to product development and distribution, regulatory advice, promotion of products that will be marketed under the Flora brand portfolio, as well as cannabis derivatives to complete product production. At the same time, Manasr will be working closely with the company to develop cannabis-based pharmaceuticals and products and assist with the approvals and authorizations required for exports of cannabis from Colombia.
The initial term of the JV agreement between Flora Growth and Manasr is three years, but the pair intend to create a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship for the foreseeable future.
For more information about Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC), click here.
Cannabis Companies Report Financial Results and Expand Product Lines
With cannabis and CBD usage increasing around the globe, cannabis companies are working to increase their stake in the market by bolstering their teams, signing new agreements and expanding their production capabilities.
On July 25, Sundial Growers Inc. (NASDAQ:SNDL) announced that all resolutions put to shareholders at the reconvened annual and special meeting were passed. At the meeting, shareholders approved: setting the number of directors at five; electing Greg Mills, Zach George, Lori Ell, Bryan Pinney, and Gregory Turnbull as directors for the upcoming year; and appointing Marcum LLP as the company's auditors for the upcoming year and authorizing the board of directors to set their remuneration. On June 20, Sundial entered into a bid agreement to acquire Zenabis Global Inc.'s assets. The assets covered by the bidding agreement include the 380,000 square foot indoor cultivation facility located in Atholville, New Brunswick, with an annual production capacity of approximately 46,000 kg of dried cannabis and a capacity of extraction of 15,000 kg. The offer agreement also provides for the acquisition of a 255,000 square foot disused indoor facility in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, which has been used as a packaging, processing and manufacturing facility for value-added cannabis.
Tilray Brands, Inc (TSX:TLRY) (NASDAQ:TLRY) announced on August 3 that Fresh Hemp Foods, Ltd., a part of the company's Tilray Wellness division, struck a distribution arrangement with Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, a premier wine and liquor distributor. Tilray Wellness will have direct access to Southern Glazer's distribution network, which reaches bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores. For fiscal 2022, Tilray's net revenue grew 22% to $628 million, or 29% in constant currency. Q4 2022 net revenue grew 8% to $153 million, and 14% to $163 million in constant currency. The company expects $70–$80 million in adjusted EBITDA and positive free cash flow in its operating business units in fiscal 2023.
Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB) (TSX:ACB) recently repurchased an aggregate amount of approximately C$25.3 million (US$20 million) of its convertible senior notes at a total cost, including accrued interest, of C$24.3 million (US$19.2 million) in cash. The purpose of the transaction was to reduce the company's debt and annual cash interest expense. Annual cash interest savings from note redemptions from Q3 2022 now total C$9.5 million (US$7.5 million). Aurora announced in May that it has been granted EU-GMP certification for its state-of-the-art medical cannabis production facility located in Germany. As the world's leading manufacturer of medical cannabis, obtaining EU-GMP certification for the company's first German manufacturing site marks an important milestone in completing a tender awarded by the German Federal Institute of medicines and medical devices.
On July 12, HEXO Corp. (TSX:HEXO) (NASDAQ:HEXO) announced that the company has finalized its previously announced transaction with Tilray Brands, Inc. The agreements with Tilray Brands consolidate HEXO and Tilray Brands' strategic alliance and give HEXO a recapitalized balance sheet and financial flexibility to become cash flow positive within four quarters. On July 27, HEXO got an extension of 180 calendar days from Nasdaq Stock Market LLC to restore compliance with Nasdaq's minimum $1.00 bid price requirement. The company now has until January 23, 2023, to meet the bid price requirement.
Flora Growth relies on natural and cost-effective cultivation practices to supply cannabis derivatives to its various business divisions of cosmetics, hemp and food and beverages.
DISCLAIMER: Microsmallcap.com (MSC) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with MSC or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by MSC are solely those of MSC and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable MSC and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. MSC and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.
The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author (MSC), and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author (MSC) has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, MSC, FNM, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer's securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment. FNM was not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release but was compensated twenty five hundred dollars by MSC, a non-affiliated third party to distribute this release on behalf of Flora Growth Corp.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Good Vibes. With respect to Pele, we offer the lava shaka . The shaka means much more than 'hang loose'. For us it's a hello, goodbye, hi-five and thank you. More importantly, it's a connection to the Hawaiian Islands we've come to love so much. Proudly wear this design and share your good vibes with others. We guarantee only good things can happen.
The design also features an outline of the Hawaiian islands along with our Project X logo on the front left chest.


text:
Hurricane Patricia less powerful in Mexican cities, hammers remote villages
CHAMELA, MEXICO Oct 25, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
Residents walk along a flooded street in Zoatlan, Nayarit state, some 150 km northwest of Guadalajara, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 (AP Photo)
by reuters Oct 25, 2015 12:00 am
Hurricane Patricia caused less damage than feared on Mexico's Pacific coast on Saturday, but hammered an isolated part of the shoreline dotted with luxury villas and fishing villages, where the storm and its 165 mph (266 kph) winds landed.
Thousands of residents and tourists fled the advance of the storm, one of the strongest in recorded history, seeking refuge in hastily arranged shelters.
There were no early reports of deaths and it appeared major damage was averted as Patricia missed tourist centers like Puerto Vallarta and the major cargo port of Manzanillo.
However, the storm carved through small rural villages, ripping corrugated metal roofing off modest brick homes and uprooting trees, with the forceful winds sucking the leaves off them.
"I've lost everything, I don't even have anywhere to sleep," said Roberto Gonzalez, a farmer, as he salvaged belongings from mangled debris of trash, toys and branches strewn across his hamlet of Chamela near the coast of Jalisco state, which took a direct hit.
His mattress was tossed about 20 feet (6 meters) away from his house. A hole gaped where his roof used to sit. Power lines were knocked down in some of the worst damage electricity board repairmen had ever seen.
Around three-quarters of some 50 modest homes in Chamela were wrecked. Residents had been evacuated to a shelter.
Phone lines remain down where the storm hit in the nearby settlement of Cuixmala, the site of one of Mexico's most exclusive getaways located between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta. It was unclear how bad the situation was there.
Flooding streets and battering buildings, Patricia hit land as a Category 5 hurricane on Friday evening before grinding inland. It moved quickly but lost power in the mountains that rise up along the Pacific coast and was downgraded to a tropical depression on Saturday as it headed through central Mexico.
Experts said the storm's speed meant it did not saturate the ground and trigger the major flooding feared. It was then broken up by high mountains, limiting the damage.
"The most important thing is that you are safe, that the menacing force of this hurricane could be faced and overcome and most importantly that you followed the recommendations of emergency services," President Enrique Pena Nieto said during a visit to Colima, which escaped the worst of the storm.
In Puerto Vallarta, where 15,000 tourists had been hastily evacuated on Friday night, hotel workers began sweeping up the debris and removing boards from windows as the sun peeked out of the clouds. The airport reopened to start ferrying tourists back home and buses crowded the streets.
Away from the more populated areas, residents described awaking to a scene of chaos after a terrifying night.
"We were sobbing, I thought everything was going to collapse around us," said Jose Angel Perez, 58, who sells coconuts in the municipality of Casimiro Castillo in Jalisco state, which lay in the storm's path. Whipping winds blew part of his roof away.
In its march north, Patricia was likely to make matters worse in Texas, which saw heavy rains overnight from a separate storm system that caused flooding powerful enough to knock over a freight train. Officials said moisture from Patricia would increase the intensity of rains swamping parts of the state by Sunday.
In Puerto Vallarta, most of the evacuated tourists had been able to return to their hotels on Friday night, officials said.
Patricia's edges brushed Manzanillo port, a main transit point for Mexico's car and mining exports. But there was no major damage and operations were set to resume on Saturday afternoon.
MEGA-STORM
At one point generating sustained winds of up to 200 mph (322 kph), Patricia was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere. Even though it lost some power before coming ashore, it was still a Category 5 storm, the strongest on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale. Such storms are relatively rare and are capable of causing devastating destruction.
Patricia's ferocious core was relatively small, with hurricane force winds extending 35 miles (55 km) from the center, the U.S National Hurricane Center said. This meant Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo were spared the worst.
The hurricane's center hit land on Friday evening near the area of Cuixmala, the NHC said.
Founded by Anglo-French financier Sir James Goldsmith, the resort at Cuixmala has played host over the years to a colorful assortment of world leaders, musicians and eccentric billionaires.
Maria Pavon, a Cuixmala reservations booker based in the inland city of Colima, said there were no guests staying when the storm hit as they had all been evacuated. But there was no word yet on the state of the resort. She and colleagues had been unable to make contact as phone lines were down, Pavon said.
The area around Cuixmala is sparsely populated, but there are small towns, and it was not clear yet how much damage they had suffered.
Once inland, Patricia rapidly lost power. By Saturday afternoon, it had degenerated from a tropical depression into a remnant low with maximum winds down to about 30 mph (48 kph), the Miami-based Hurricane Center said.
Patricia was located about 45 miles (72 km) southwest of the city of Monterrey, heading northeast at 22 mph (35 kph), the center said.
It could, however, pose a flood threat, the NHC said.
Patricia became a tropical storm on Thursday and strengthened with stunning speed as it closed in on the Mexican coast. Meteorological authorities compared it to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed over 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013.
Last Update: Oct 25, 2015 4:44 am
All the Euro 2020 squads


text:
Williams v. U.S. Dep't of Justice
DAVID VERDEN WILLIAMS, JR., FED. REG. #99700-022, Plaintiff,
U.S. DEP'T OF JUSTICE, BOP WARDEN OF FDC HONOLULU, FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, Defendants.
ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT WITH LEAVE TO AMEND
J. Michael Seabright Chief United States District Judge.
Before the court is pro se Plaintiff David Verden Williams, Jr.'s prisoner civil rights action brought pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). Williams alleges that prison officials at the Federal Detention Center, Honolulu ("FDC Honolulu"), including an unidentified warden and psychologist, and Physician's Assistant ("PA") Ackley, violated his constitutional rights regarding an incident that allegedly occurred more than five years ago when Williams was incarcerated at FDC Honolulu.[1]
Williams' pleadings, which encompass at least three serially-filed documents, [2] fail to state a colorable claim for relief and are DISMISSED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A(a). Williams is granted leave to amend his claims to cure their deficiencies by submitting one coherent pleading on the court's prisoner civil rights complaint form on or before May 27, 2019.
The court must conduct a pre-Answer screening of all pleadings brought by a prisoner to the federal courts, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A(a). Claims or complaints that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim for relief, or seek damages from defendants who are immune from suit must be dismissed. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc); Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th Cir. 2010).
Screening under §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A(a) involves the same standard of review as that used under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012); Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2012). Under Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must "contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). "Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice." Id. The "mere possibility of misconduct" or an "unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed me accusation" falls short of meeting this plausibility standard. Id. at 678-79; see also Moss v. U.S. Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009).
Pro se litigants' pleadings must be liberally construed and all doubts should be resolved in their favor. Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010) (citations omitted). The court must grant leave to amend if it appears the plaintiff can correct the defects in the complaint, Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1130, but if a claim or complaint cannot be saved by amendment, dismissal with prejudice is appropriate. Sylvia Landfield Tr. v. City of L.A., 729 F.3d 1189, 1196 (9th Cir. 2013).
II. BACKGROUND [3]
As noted, Williams has filed at least three documents labeled as the "Complaint" or "Amended complaint, " as well as several other documents in which he attempts to explain his claims.[4] Reading these documents together, the court discerns the following allegations: Williams claims that, while he was confined at FDC Honolulu, a psychologist negligently ordered a "tactical" team to move him from a solitary, suicide watch cell to a Special Housing Unit ("SHU") cell.[5] Williams was housed with an inmate that he alleges was known to be violent, who Williams alleges attacked him on or about January 26, 2012, hitting Williams in the head thirty to forty times when Williams refused to perform oral sex. See ECF No. 19 (memorandum "Inmate Disciplinary Record Indicating date of skull fracture").[6] PA Ackley examined Williams after the assault, took photographs, told Williams that he had abrasions only, and did not order x-rays or an M.R.I.
Williams alleges that his skull and nose were fractured during this attack, causing brain damage and rendering him mentally incompetent for the past five years. Williams says that he has asked for x-rays repeatedly since the assault, but was denied until PA Middleton at FCI Estill recently ordered an x-ray of his skull. Williams states that he has not seen the results of this x-ray.
Williams claims that the FDC Honolulu Warden and psychologist violated his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment by negligently moving him to the SHU where he was housed with a violent inmate, and that PA Ackley provided inadequate medical care by failing to order an x-ray to determine whether Williams had skull and nose fractures.
Williams says that he was unable to commence this suit or grieve this incident within the past five years because he was mentally incapacitated after the attack, but he is now "in the process of exhausting [his] Administrative Remedies with the BOP in relation to this claim." ECF No. 1, PageID #2-3. He says the FCI Estill Warden is currently reviewing his first-step BP8 grievance, and that he will take his claims to the BOP Regional and Central offices after the FCI Estill Warden rules on the grievance.
Williams seeks $20 million in compensatory and punitive damages.[7]
III. DISCUSSION
Bivens recognized for the first time an implied cause of action for damages against federal actors in their individual capacity for violating a plaintiff's civil rights that is analogous to a suit brought against state actors under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.[8] See Vega v. United States, 881 F.3d 1146, 1152 (9th Cir. 2018). To state a Bivens claim for damages, a plaintiff must allege facts showing that: (1) a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) the alleged deprivation was committed by a federal actor. Van Strum v. Lawn, 940 F.2d 406, 409 (9th Cir. 1991).
"Because vicarious liability is inapplicable to Bivens and § 1983 suits, a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official's own individual actions, has violated the Constitution." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676; see also Jones v. Cmty. Redevelopment Agency of City of Los Angeles, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984) (stating even pro se litigants must "allege with at least some degree of particularity overt acts which defendants engaged in" to state a claim). Williams must allege "factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged, " Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, and describe personal acts by each individual defendant that show a direct causal connection to a violation of specific constitutional rights, Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989).
A.Official Capacity Claims for Injunctive Relief
Williams only names the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ"), the Federal Bureau of Prisons ("BOP"), and the FDC Warden as Defendants in the captions of his documents. But because he alleges claims against the FDC psychologist and PA Ackley within his pleadings, the court liberally construes the pleadings as including the FDC psychologist and PA Ackley as Defendants. See Yeseta v. Baima, 837 F.2d 380, 382-83 (9th Cir. 1988). Bivens provides a cause of action against individual officers acting under color of federal law who are alleged to have acted unconstitutionally. Corr. Servs. Corp. v. Malesko, 534 U.S. 61, 70 (2001); Solida v. McKelvey, 820 F.3d 1090, 1094 (9th Cir. 2016). Williams cannot state colorable Bivens claims against the DOJ or the BOP, and to the extent that he names the FDC Honolulu Warden, psychologist, and PA Ackley in their official capacities, these claims are DISMISSED with prejudice.
B. Rule 8
         Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, pleadings must contain a "short and plain statement" of the court's jurisdiction that shows the plaintiff is entitled to relief, and a demand for the relief sought. Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a). Claims must be set forth simply, concisely, and directly in a manner that gives the defendant fair notice of the claims alleged. See Rule 8(d)(1); Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). Thus, a complaint must allege in specific terms how each named defendant is involved and set forth an affirmative link between each defendant's actions and the claimed deprivation. See ...


text:
Trending Culture Awards Business Supplements Business Breakfasts Top 200
Carillion wins £200m prison contracts across England
Updated 08:52, 19 Nov 2014
By Robert Gibson
Integrated support services group Carillion has been selected to provide facilitites management services to 50 prisons across England
Carillion worker
Carillion, which took over Newcastle's Warm Front business Eaga in 2011, has secured contracts worth up to £200m to provide facilities management services in public sector prisons.
The group, which employs around 40,000 people and operates across the UK, the Middle East and Canada, was selected by the UK Ministry of Justice as the preferred bidder for two contracts related to the National Offender Management service.
One will cover prisons in London and the east of England while the second will cover the South West, South Central, Kent and Sussex.
Overall, work will be carried out in around 50 prisons and will run for an initial five year period, with the potential for two subsequent one-year extensions, subject to satisfactory performance.
The combined revenue from the contracts - which cover services ranging from mechanical and electrical maintenance to waste management - is expected to be between £35m and £40m per year.
Mobilisation is scheduled to begin next year with a contract start date of June 1, 2015.
Richard Howson, chief executive of Carillion, which last year reported revenues of around £4.1bn, said: "We are delighted to have been selected for these services contracts.
"I believe this reflects our ability to provide fully integrated service solutions that are tailored to the needs of our customers, combined with a strong focus on quality and value for money.
"We look forward to working closely with the Ministry of Justice to support its objectives of providing more efficient, high-quality services in public prisons."
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Bizarre pictures have been coming out of Iceland's Thingvellir National Park, where other-worldly zig-zag patterns have appeared on the frozen surface of Lake Thingvallavatn.
According to local reports, the pattern stretches for 2 km (1.2 miles) along the ice, and park officials say they've never seen anything like this before.
"On March 9, someone noted a strange-looking pattern on the ice sheet that locals had not seen before," Park official Einar AE Saemundsen told the media.
"The linear and perpendicular pattern stretched more than 2 km out into the lake. The lines did not form in same area as other known cracks in the ice."
"Speculations started, and there was no shortage of alternative explanations from alien activity and unknown monsters in the lake to strange conspiracy theories," he added.
Of course everyone's first instinct is to blame aliens, but we actually have a perfectly logical explanation for this bizarre natural phenomenon - finger rafting, which has been previously recorded in parts of the Arctic and Antarctica.
When you imagine floating ice sheets moving towards each other to eventually meet, conventional wisdom states that they'll either ride over or under each other, like Earth's tectonic plates, or crash into each other and form a line of rubble, like massive ice floes do in Antarctica.
But neither explanation could account for these strange, zig-zag patterns in moving ice sheets that have bewildered scientists for more than half a century.
These natural patterns look like metre-wide, rectangular zigzags, and have only ever been recorded in ice sheets less than about 10 centimetres thick.
"Both sheets ... must have the same thickness - which can happen when a single ice sheet breaks up and fragments of it later collide," Jonathan Sherwood explains on the American Physical Society website.
"Since the pattern wasn't noticed anywhere else in nature, most physicists simply chalked it up to some peculiarity in the properties of ice."
That was until John Wettlaufer, professor of geology and geophysics at Yale University, came along.
In a 2007 study led by Wettlaufer, researchers identified a third option for ice sheet collision - sometimes, these ice sheets form a series of interlocking blocks that alternately ride over and under one another.
"A surprising pattern, much like the meshed teeth of a zipper, is frequently seen when floating ice sheets collide," Wettlaufer explained at the time.
The Yale team figured this out by setting up experiments that recreate the movements of large ice sheets floating on water to see how this phenomenon would play out.
"Using thin sheets of sealing wax floating on water, we observed finger rafting simply by pushing two sheets in contact along their long edge," the team explains in paper published in Physical Review Letters.
"The [experimental] fingers have the strong rectilinear features reported of finger rafting ice, and also exhibit a characteristic finger width."
The researchers suspect that because ice - or something else like floating sealing wax - often has naturally ragged edges, when two such sheets make contact, the uneven edges can either move under or over the other.
"Because the floating sheets are slightly flexible, each responds by developing a series of ripples or corrugations spreading out from the initial point of disturbance," Sherwood reports for the American Physical Society.
"It's something like what happens as you haul yourself onto a wide air mattress in a swimming pool: the sections next to you rise up as you pull down, and sections beyond them slump down again."
Experts are in agreement that the same phenomenon is what's occurring in Iceland, but that doesn't make it any less remarkable for the locals.
"Scientific explanations came from experts that recognised this as a very rare phenomenon called finger rafting," Saemundsen said in a recent public statement.
"But it is not known to have ever been seen before at Lake Thingvallavatn."


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Celebrations as Kentish Town's Blustons site reopens as a charity shop
Published: 2:00 PM November 19, 2018 Updated: 1:59 PM October 14, 2020
Michael Albert, Madison Hill, and Marilyn Albert outside the newly re-opened Octavia Foundation Blustons clothes shop. Picture: John Cooper - Credit: Archant
Champagne corks were popped on Saturday as the well-known former Blustons clothes store in Kentish Town has been re-opened as a vintage charity shop.
The new ownership marks the latest chapter for the Grade-II listed shop in Kentish Town Road. Its former owners, Michael and Marilyn Albert, cut the ribbon for the Octavia store to open.
The store was closed and sold off in 2015, ending 84 years of it in the family.
"I'm very pleased to see the shop open again," said Michael. "I think it is a positive thing for the local community and for me personally, it is great to see our old shop with its name so closely associated with my family, open for business again".
The original signs have been spruced up, and the original features have been preserved.
The opening on Saturday was marked by an auction for a famous Blustons polka-dot dress, similar to one that was in its window for decades.
The Octavia charity supports more than 2000 people in London each year affected by ill health, social isolation, or with employment issues.