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May 5, 2013 | 1:07 p.m.

Wiesberger wins Indonesian Masters; Els second

Bernd Wiesberger touches the tip of his hat to acknowledge the crowd upon winning the Indonesian Masters.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Bernd Wiesberger shot a 5-under 67 in the final round Sunday to win the Indonesian Masters by a stroke over British Open champion Ernie Els.

The 27-year-old Austrian finished with an overall 15-under 273, with Els in second place after a 4-under 68 for 274 at the Asian Tour event.

Wiesberger opened with a birdie but bogeyed the fourth hole before making two more birdies on Nos. 8 and 9.

Both Wiesberger and Els had an eagle on the 12th.

Japan's Daisuke Kataoka (70) was third with a 275 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.


April 24, 2013 | 4:47 p.m.

PGA Tour lands NEC to back Latin American circuit

A week after his runner-up finish at the Masters (above), Angel Cabrera won the PGA Tour Latinoamerica's Del Centro Open in Cordoba, Argentina.
Gene Yasuda

The PGA Tour Latinoamerica has gained NEC Corp. as an umbrella sponsor, a milestone deal underscoring the circuit's potential and the region's promise for golf and industry.

The agreement, announced April 24 by the PGA Tour and NEC, takes effect immediately and changes the name of the circuit to NEC Series – PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

NEC, which specializes in the integration of IT and network technologies, has a long history with the PGA Tour. The umbrella sponsorship represents a significant upgrade from the company's current investment in the Latin American tour – title sponsorship of the Roberto De Vicenzo Invitational, which is being played this week at the Club de Golf Uruguay.

For 15 years through 1998, NEC served as sponsor of the PGA Tour's World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, and then backed the tournament for an additional seven years after it became a World Golf Championships event.

“As a former World Golf Championships sponsor, NEC well understands the importance and effectiveness of sponsorship for golf tournaments. The NEC Series – PGA TOUR Latinoamerica will expand NEC’s presence in Latin America and beyond," said Carlos Martinangeli, chief operating officer and senior vice ...

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April 22, 2013 | 10:24 p.m.

Scores take backseat as Nicklaus, Player, Trevino reunite

Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player during the par-3 contest at the 2013 Masters.
Adam Schupak

— Lee Trevino cherished the round. His 7-under 65 best-ball score with partner Mike Hill could’ve been better, but playing alongside the team of Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player in the first round of the Demaret Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, well, that’s something he’ll always treasure.

“We don’t know if we will ever get a chance to play with Jack again like this,” Trevino said. “We’ll probably see each other someplace, but as far as a competitive round it probably will never happen again.”

Nicklaus competed in the two-man team event for the first time since 2001. His comments afterwards didn’t dispel the notion that this might be a one-shot deal for him to participate in the 36-hole competition for players 70 and older. Asked if the 3-under 69 team score for Nicklaus-Player had inspired him to play in the Legends in future years, Nicklaus said, “Quite the contrary. It did not inspire me to play anymore.”

Nicklaus did, however, inspire thousands of fans to the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort & Spa to see three of the greatest names in golf – Jack, Gary and Lee – give it their best. There ...

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April 22, 2013 | 4:26 p.m.

British Amateur champ Alan Dunbar turns professional

Alan Dunbar
Golfweek Staff

British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar has turned professional. The Northern Irishman signed with Chubby Chandler’s International Sports Management in July 2012, when he was believed to be the first golfer to take advantage of a new rule that enabled amateurs to sign to a professional management company.

Dunbar, who turns 23 next week, missed the Masters cut after rounds of 83-77. He also won the 2009 St. Andrews Links Trophy and was a member of Great Britain & Ireland’s victorious team in the 2011 Walker Cup with a 2-1 match record.

Dunbar will begin his career with consecutive starts on the Challenge Tour: this week’s Challenge de Madrid and the following week’s Montecchia Golf Open in Italy. He also has a start in the European Tour’s Madeira Islands Open on May 16-19 and Nordea Masters on May 30-June 2.

“We are delighted that Alan has agreed to let us help, encourage and guide him at the start of his professional career,” Chandler said in a statement. “I am convinced he will go a long way in the paid ranks after a glittering amateur career.”

By turning professional, Dunbar gave up an invitation to this year’s ...

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March 31, 2013 | 10:40 a.m.

Australian Hend shoots 64 to win in Thailand

CHIANGMAI, Thailand — Australian Scott Hend won the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic after a final-round 64 to beat South African Bryce Easton by three strokes at the Alpine Golf Resort on Sunday.

Hend started the round six shots off the lead. But he had eight birdies, an eagle on the fourth hole and two bogeys for a 20-under 268 to earn his third Asian Tour victory. He also won the 2008 Indonesian President Invitational and 2012 Singapore Classic.

Ernie Els of South Africa and Y.E. Yang of South Korea faltered in the final round, shooting 70 and 73, respectively. Els finished tied for 14th, with Yang a shot behind tied in 20th place.


March 22, 2013 | 4:41 p.m.

A world traveler, 'Globetrotter' Lewis playing well

Amelia Lewis
Julie Williams

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Opening Amelia Lewis’ closet is like opening a box of crayons. As a Loudmouth-sponsored player, Lewis has received four of the clothing company’s brightly colored designs in pants, skirts and shorts for the past 2 1/2 years. Her closet is so full that her mother, Georgina, occasionally makes her sort through it and donate leftovers to friends and family members.

As flashy as Lewis’ appearance may be because of her association with Loudmouth, her on-course personality is the polar opposite. Lewis holed out a bunker shot on the 10th hole to start the first round of the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic on Friday. She turned in 6-under 30 at Lake Region Yacht and Country Club, and finished the day with a 5-under 67.

You wouldn’t have known unless you looked at her scorecard.

“I was putting very well,” Lewis said of her front nine. “On the back, my swing got away from me.”

Dad and caddie Chris says that kind of play is what earned his daughter the nickname Globetrotter. When her swing gets loose, Lewis sees a lot of the golf course. On Friday, she was able to hold it together long ...

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March 22, 2013 | 12:06 p.m.

Second job as diner hostess a reality check for Sweeney

Jaclyn Sweeney
Beth Ann Baldry

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Last December, Jaclyn Sweeney applied for six jobs in the food and retail industries. The mini-tour pro wanted a side gig to help pay for groceries and the landscaping bill at her parents’ second home in Bradenton.

No one called her back.

At her boyfriend’s urging, she got on Craigslist and saw an open call posted for Eat Here in nearby Siesta Key. As a frequent diner at the local hotspot, Sweeney gave it a try.

“(The woman doing the hiring said), 'You have no experience in anything,' ” Sweeney said.

Sweeney, 23, responded that she was a quick learner and wound up landing a job as a hostess. It was her first real job with a guaranteed paycheck.

“The service industry is very hard,” Sweeney said. “It’s amazing how many people don’t say thank you or please, and get in your face because they want to move their table.”

This is what’s known as a reality check, and it has done wonders for this young woman.

Sweeney won the Symetra Tour's season-opening event in snowy Mesa, Ariz., last month. She birdied three out of the last four holes to win her second ...

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March 6, 2013 | 4:57 p.m.

Nick Price, Ernie Els rejected on Presidents Cup changes

Ernie Els at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013.
Alex Miceli

— It seems the Presidents Cup will retain the format some say is skewed toward a U.S. victory when the International and U.S. teams make the September trip to Muirfield Village in Ohio for the 10th Presidents Cup.

While captain of the International team, Greg Norman said that the format needs to be changed to make the International 12 more competitive. Since then, he and current captain Nick Price, as well as Ernie Els and others, have pitched an amended format to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and U.S. captain Fred Couples. Price finds the rejection to be clear.

"The issue to all of us is dead and buried," Price said.

Because of the International team's lack of depth, Price has advocated more of a Ryder Cup format with four matches in the alternate shot, rather than six on day one and five on day two.

“Our team doesn't quite have the depth that the American team has,” seven–time participant Els said Wednesday, a day after a meeting on the subject. “Their last player in is about where my (world) ranking is, 25, 26 in the world. Right now I'm like No ...

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February 26, 2013 | 11:52 a.m.

Guan, 14, set to qualify for Open Championship

Tianlang Guan
Golfweek Staff

Tianlang Guan, the 14-year-old Asia-Pacific Amateur champion who will play in the Masters in April, will attempt to qualify for a second major championship this year.

Guan is scheduled to compete in International Final Qualifying-Asia, which begins Thursday at Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand. The top four finishers will earn a spot in the Open Championship, to be held July 18-21 at Muirfield.

“I have played at some professional golf tournaments before and it is always great to play with the professional golfers," Guan said in a release. "I can learn so much from them and the experience of playing at the professional events."

Also in the field are Washington sophomore Cheng-Tsung Pan, two-time Asia-Pacific champion Hideki Matsuyama and GB&I Walker Cupper James Byrne, who currently plays on the Asian Tour.


February 7, 2013 | 9:09 p.m.

Ko shoots 70, trails by 1 at New Zealand Women's Open

Lydia Ko of New Zealand leads after the first round of stroke play at the 2012 U. S. Women's Amateur Championship at The Country Club. She posted a 66.
Beth Ann Baldry

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – Mike Henderson walked off the 18th green at Clearwater Golf Club and received a hearty congrats. He’d just looped for Lydia Ko in Round 1 of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open, where Kiwi pride opened with a 2-under 70 to trail by one on a windswept Friday morning.

“It’s an easy job,” Henderson said. “Just don’t drop the dog or stand on the ball.”

Henderson, a friend of a friend who is looping for Ko this week only, was referring to Ko’s shaggy-dog headcover. When Ko won the LPGA’s CN Canadian Women’s Open last summer as a 15-year-old amateur, she told reporters that had she gotten the six-figure check that went along with the trophy, she would’ve gotten a puppy.

Alas, Ko took only a small replica trophy back with her to Auckland. She won’t get much more should she win in Christchurch, though her stock will rise considerably higher. Despite being the marquee name at Clearwater – and arguably the player to beat – Ko prefers to keep her head down when working alongside those twice her age.

“I’m just an amateur playing in a pro ...

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January 31, 2013 | 12:38 p.m.

PGA Tour Canada announces 7 events for 2013

Golfweek Staff

PGA Tour Canada announced seven events for its 2013 season on Thursday.

The season, which will run from June to September, will begin with the Times Colonist Island Savings Open June 6-9 at Uplands GC in Victoria, British Columbia and will include five other events in Canada leading up to the season-ending Tour Championship of PGA Tour Canada on Sept. 12-15. The site for the Tour Championship will be announced soon.

“This is a very solid starting point for our schedule,” PGA Tour Canada president Jeff Monday said. “Our goal is to provide our members with quality events with long-term commitments, which leave a lasting impact in the communities we play, and we feel we are well on our way to achieving those goals. We are working on several opportunities to increase the number of events not only this year but in 2014.”

The top 5 money leaders in the PGA Tour Canada's Order of Merit will earn full status on the Web.com Tour. Nos. 6-10 will be exempt into the final stage of Web.com Tour Q-School in the fall.

PGA Tour Canada Q-School will take place April 7-12 at Morongo GC at Tukwet Canyon in Beaumont ...

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January 15, 2013 | 12:50 p.m.

2013 European Challenge Tour schedule

Golfweek Staff

2013 European Challenge Tour schedule

• Jan. 31-Feb. 3: Gujarat Kensville Challenge, Ahmedebad, India

• Feb. 14-17: Barclays Kenya Open, Nairobi, Kenya

• April 4-7: TBD

• April 11-14: TBD

• April 25-28: Madrid Challenge, Madrid, Spain

• May 2-5: Italian Challenge, TBD, Italy

• May 9-12: TBD

• May 16-19: Madeira Islands Open, Madeira, Portugal

• May 23-26: Telenet Trophy, Lasne, Belgium

• May 30-June 2: Fred Olsen Spain Challenge, Canary Islands, Spain

• June 6-9: Real Czech Challenge Open, Dritec, Czech Republic

• June 13-16: Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open, Lumbres, France

• June 20-23: Scottish Hydro Challenge, Aviemore, Scotland

• June 27-30: Kartnen Golf Open, Langsee, Austria

• July 4-7: Hartl Resort Challenge, Griesbach, Germany

• July 11-14: Swiss Challenge, Lucerne, Switzerland

• July 18-21: Mugello Tuscany Open, Florence, Italy

• July 25-28: TBD

• Aug. 1-4: Finnish Challenge, Hyvinkaa, Finland

• Aug. 8-11: Norwegian Challenge, Oslo, Norway

• Aug. 15-18: TBD

• Aug. 22-25: Rolex Trophy, Geneva, Switzerland

• Aug. 29-Sept. 1: TBD

• Sept. 5-8: Open Cotes d’Armor Bretagne, Pleneuf, France

• Sept. 12-15: Kharkov Superior Cup, Kharkov, Ukraine

• Sept. 19-22: Kazakhstan Open, Almaty, Kazakhstan

• Sept. 26-29: Toulouse Open, Toulouse, France

• Oct. 3-6: Italian Federation Cup, TBD, Italy

• Oct. 10-13: TBD

• Oct. 24-27: National Bank of Oman Classic, Muscat, Oman

• Oct. 31-Nov. 3: Challenge Tour Grand Final, TBD

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January 10, 2013 | 5:24 p.m.

Jutanugarn sisters sign with IMG

Ariya Jutanugarn (left) with her older sister Moriya Jutanugarn.
Golfweek Staff

After sweeping LPGA and Ladies European Tour Q-School titles at the end of 2012, Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn have signed with IMG for management and marketing representation. It marks the beginning of a year in which Ariya, 17, and Moriya, 18, will reach uncharted waters.

Moriya earned co-medalist honors on Dec. 2 at LPGA Q-School, ending an amateur career that included a runner-up finish at the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur and low-amateur honors at the U.S. Women’s Open that same summer.

“Playing golf professionally on the LPGA Tour has been a lifelong dream for me, and I can’t wait to get started,” said Moriya. “Many of my golf heroes growing up were represented by IMG, and as a company with such a strong presence in golf around the world, my family and I knew that they were the right fit for us.”

Ariya turned professional after being named Rolex Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Amateur victories in 2012 included the AJGA Thunderbird, Rolex Girls Championship, Women’s Western Amateur, Canadian Women’s Amateur, PGA Junior Championship and Polo Golf Junior Classic. She also won LET Q-School by five shots.

“It’s ...

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January 9, 2013 | 5:11 p.m.

2013 Japan Golf Tour schedule

Golfweek Staff

2013 Japan Golf Tour schedule

• March 14-17: Thailand Open, TBD

• March 28-31: Indonesia PGA Championship, TBD

• April 18-21: Token Homemate Cup, Mie, Japan

• April 25-28: Tsuruya Open, Hyogo, Japan

• May 2-5: The Crowns, Aichi, Japan

• May 16-19: PGA Championship Nissin Cupnoodles Cup, Chiba, Japan

• May 30-June 2: Diamond Cup, Ibaraki, Japan

• June 20-23: Championship at Shishido Hills, Ibaraki, Japan

• June 27-30: Mizuno Open, Okayama, Japan

• July 4-7: Nagashima Shigeo Invitational, Hokkaido, Japan

• Aug. 22-25: Kansai Open, Hyogo, Japan

• Aug. 29-Sept. 1: Vana H. Cup KBC Augusta, Fukuoka, Japan

• Sept. 5-8: Fujisankei Classic, Yamanashi, Japan

• Sept. 19-22: ANA Open, Hokkaido, Japan

• Sept. 26-29: Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, Osaka, Japan

• Oct. 3-6: Tokai Classic, Aichi, Japan

• Oct. 10-13: Toshin Golf Tournament, TBD

• Oct. 17-20: Japan Open, Ibaraki, Japan

• Oct. 24-27: Bridgestone Open, Chiba, Japan

• Oct. 31-Nov. 3: Mynavi ABC Championship, Hyogo, Japan

• Nov. 7-10: HEIWA PGM Dream Cup, Ibaraki, Japan

• Nov. 14-17: Taiheiyo Masters, Shizuoka, Japan

• Nov. 21-24: Dunlop Phoenix, Miyazaki, Japan

• Nov. 28-Dec. 1: Casio World Open, Kochi, Japan

• Dec. 5-8: Golf Nippon Series JT Cup, Tokyo

• Dec. 15: Hitachi 3tours Championship, Chiba, Japan

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January 9, 2013 | 5:06 p.m.

2013 Asian Tour schedule

Golfweek Staff

2013 Asian Tour schedule

• Feb. 21-24: Myanmar Open, Yangon, Myanmar

• March 6-9: SAIL-SBI Open, India

• March 28-31: Chiangmai Golf Classic, Thailand

• April 4-7: Panasonic Open, India

• April 11-14: TBD

• May 2-5: CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters, Jakarta, Indonesia


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