87F499CB4D206: January 2014

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Golf-Donaldson maintains momentum and lead at Sun City

December 7, 2013 10:13 AM

SUN CITY, South Africa, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Four birdies on the back nine saw Welshman Jamie Donaldson maintain his three stroke lead at the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Saturday with one round to play.

The 38-year-old, chasing his biggest single payday yet at the $6.5-million event, kept up Friday's momentum as he returned a third round score of 67 for a 16-under-par total of 200.

He might have had a more comfortable lead in search of the $1.25-million first prize, had he not bogeyed the 17th at the Gary Player Country Club.

"I was in between clubs and it put me in trouble but in the end I came out with a good five. I'm still in a strong position and I've got to go out there tomorrow and play really good golf," he told Supersport television.

"It's a tough field, a lead of three doesn't mean much among these guys."

Donaldson leads from Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and American Ryan Moore, who are 13-under-par.

Bjorn played one of the best rounds of the day, birdying the 18th for a second successive day to finish with a 66.

"I got off to a good start and played solid golf. That's what you need to do on this course. If I can shoot 66 or 67 tomorrow, I'll give myself a chance. But you have to play sensible golf, not try and chase down the leader," Bjorn said at the end of his round.

Moore followed a second round 65 with a 67 on Saturday, with five birdies in a bogey-free round.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand both matched Bjorn's 66 to go 11-under, along with world number three Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who hit a double bogey at the par-five ninth to finish with a 69.

For three-time winner Ernie Els, making a record 18th appearance at the tournament called 'Africa's major', a triple bogey early in his round saw him finish with a 77 for a seven-over total that leaves him tie bottom of the elite 30-man field. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Alan Baldwin)

Donaldson keeps 3-shot lead at Sun City

December 7, 2013 11:06 AMAP - Sports

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) -- Jamie Donaldson of Wales held onto his three-shot lead through the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City.

Donaldson had six birdies and one bogey on No. 17 in a 5-under 67 Saturday to stay ahead of Ryan Moore (67) and Thomas Bjorn (66).

Henrik Stenson, playing his first tournament since clinching the European money title last month to go with his FedEx Cup, is 11 under and five off the lead with Sergio Garcia and Thongchai Jaidee.

Donaldson had his birdies with back-to-back gains on Nos. 4 and 5, 10 and 11, and 14 and 15.

Players in Sun City are wearing a black ribbon in honor of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, who died at age 95 on Thursday.

Donaldson shoots 67, keeps 3-shot lead in Sun City

By GERALD IMRAY (AP Sports Writer)December 7, 2013 12:48 PMAP - Sports

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) -- Jamie Donaldson maintained his three-shot lead through the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Saturday, putting the Welshman in sight of his biggest career payday in his Sun City debut.

The Welshman had six birdies and a single bogey on No. 17 in a 5-under 67 to stay ahead of Ryan Moore of the United States (67) and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (66). Donaldson had a 16-under total of 200.

Henrik Stenson, playing his first tournament since clinching the European money title last month to go with his FedEx Cup, was five shots back after a 69, tied with Sergio Garcia (66) and Thongchai Jaidee (66).

Donaldson had his birdies in twos at the Gary Player Country Club, with back-to-back gains on Nos. 4 and 5, 10 and 11, and 14 and 15 for a good chance at the $1.25 million winner's check at the newly instated European Tour event. He last played the course nearly 20 years ago.

''Every win is special, this would be just a little bit more special,'' he said.

Moore, also in his Sun City debut, had five birdies in a bogey-free 67. He's attempting to become the first rookie winner at the Nedbank since Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty in 1986.

Ernie Els struggled to a 77 after hearing before the third round that his former psychological coach Jos Vanstiphout had died. Els said it was ''another very sad day'' for him after the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela on Thursday.

Bjorn opened his back nine with an eagle and a birdie, but had a bogey on the par-5 No. 14 to slip back again before finishing with his fifth birdie.

Former Sun City winner Stenson recovered from a 7 on No. 9, when the No. 3-ranked Swede twice hit the water. He made birdie four holes to stay in contention.

Garcia rallied after a 73 on Friday, making six birdies and an eagle on No. 13 to counter two bogeys.

Pornanong Phatlum wins Dubai Ladies Masters

December 7, 2013 1:45 PMAP - Sports

Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand, right, hugs his brother and caddie after she wins the final round of the …

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum rallied to win the Dubai Ladies Masters on Saturday, hitting a 54-degree wedge to 2 feet on the par-5 final hole for a birdie and a one-stroke victory over American Stacy Lewis.

The 24-year-old Phatlum closed with a 6-under 66 to finish at 15-under 273 in the Ladies European Tour's season-ending event. She also birdied the par-4 17th at Emirates Golf Course.

''I am very excited,'' Phatlum said. ''I just played my own game and stayed calm under pressure. I have learned how to stay focused through meditation. ... When I'm on the course, I just play my game and I didn't think about the win. ... I don't want to pressure myself.''

The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, bogeyed the par-3 15th and closed with three pars for a 69. She missed a 40-foot birdie putt on No. 18.

''I'm disappointed,'' Lewis said. ''The back nine that Pornanong played was pretty impressive. She hit golf shots when she needed to and made the putts and I didn't. It's been a really good year. It's had its highs and lows. I've played some really consistent golf.''

Phatlum, 23rd this year on the LPGA Tour money list with $600,210, earned $102,770 for her second LET victory. She also won the 2012 Women's Indian Open.

Spain's Carlota Ciganda was third at 7 under after a 71.

Belgian golf psychologist to Ernie Els dies at 62

December 7, 2013 2:12 PMAP - Sports

File - In this Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 file photo, South African Ernie Els tees off the 9th hole during the first round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China. Els says he is considering cutting his golf schedule even more to spend time with his family, it was announced on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2103. The four-time major winner has already slowed down over the past few years, playing 19 tournaments on the PGA Tour and only seven European Tour events last season. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) -- Ernie Els had another sad day upon learning that his former psychologist, Jos Vanstiphout, had died of a heart attack.

A friend of the psychologist said Vanstiphout died Friday night of a heart attack, the European Tour said. The friend, Xavier Champagne, said Vanstiphout broke his hip two years ago in a fall from a ladder, and in recent months had been dealing with shortness of breath.

Vanstiphout was 62.

Born in Belgium, he became interested in golf psychology after reading Tim Gallwey's book, ''The Inner Game of Golf.''

He worked with Retief Goosen when the South African won his first U.S. Open in 2001 at Southern Hills, where Goosen three-putted for bogey from 12 feet on the last hole to allow for a playoff, and then beat Mark Brooks the next day.

He more famously worked with Els, who won his first British Open in 2002 after the first sudden-death playoff in Open history.

Els, speaking at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, received the news two days after the death of Nelson Mandela. He said Vanstiphout meant much to his career.

''We really connected and there was a genuine love for each other there,'' Els said. ''It was a love-hate at times, as everyone will know, but the stuff he taught me and the way that he did it was totally different. His approach was unique, and I know he got under a lot of people's skin. But for me, he was just brilliant.''

Els said he respected the no-nonsense approach of Vanstiphout, using tough talk even in the best of times. Els recalled his round of 60 at Royal Melbourne.

''I walk onto the range the next day and he is all over me again,'' Els said. ''I said, 'What?' And he looked at me and he said, 'You know and I know that you should have shot 58.' That was the way he was, and he knew me very well, and was one of the only people who could say that to me.''