Matteo Manassero finished a marathon final day in style

Matteo Manassero finished a marathon final day in style to win the Barclays Singapore Open after a play-off with Louis Oosthuizen at Sentosa GC.

The 19 year old eagled the third play-off hole from 15 feet to deny Oosthuizen a third win of the season, and hand The Race to Dubai title to Rory McIlroy after the World Number One finished third.

With much of the third round incomplete at the start of the day after lengthy storm delays on Thursday and Friday, Manassero set about completing a seven under par 64 to lead by two going into the final round.

The Italian, who became The European Tour’s youngest winner two years ago and added a second title in neighbouring Malaysia last season, then birdied the par five 18th for a final round 69 to tie with Oosthuizen on 13 under after the former Open Champion had followed a 65 with a closing 67.

Two trips back down the 18th failed to split the pair – Oosthuizen bravely holing a seven foot birdie putt after Manassero chipped to two feet first time around, before the 30 year old missed from five feet after his opponent failed to get up-and-down from the edge of the green.

Both were on the putting surface in two at the third time of asking, but when Oosthuizen missed from 30 feet Manassero showed nerves of steel to become the first teenager to win three European Tour titles.

“It’s been an extremely long day,” said Manassero. “The adrenaline kept me going and the key was starting really well this morning. Starting with some birdies gave me a lot of adrenaline to go forward. 

“The play-off was just a great honour to play with Louis - it’s been amazing really. This year has been a tough year for me going through a few swing changes, but it has been amazing this week. I’m glad this came in such a great tournament.” 

Manassero had four birdies in a row from the fourth in his third round to hit the front early this morning, and when overnight leader Thomas Björn faded on the back nine Oosthuizen emerged as his nearest challenger.

The Masters Tournament runner-up was two behind with a round to play before birdieing the first to get within one.

He found trouble off the tee at fifth, however, and missed his par putt from 18 feet.

Manassero birdied the second before chipping from sand to within two feet at fourth for an obligatory gain, as Oosthuizen found water at the seventh only to almost hole his fourth from the fairway and save par.

Oosthuizen caught Manassero with a hattrick of birdies from the ninth, but looked to have thrown away his chances of winning with back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th.

He chipped in at the 14th, though, and a brilliant pitch to within two feet at the par five 18th saw him set the target at 13 under.

After bogeying the 15th Manassero needed a birdie, and although The European Tour’s youngest winner saw his putt slide by on the 17th, he made no mistake at the last after reaching the green in two.

McIlroy shot 69-65 on the final day, an eagle at the last confirming his status as European Number One and allowing the Northern Irishman to match Ryder Cup teammate Luke Donald’s 2011 achievement of topping the money list on both sides of the Atlantic.

Björn recovered from his third round 74 with a 68 to take fourth on nine under, with Italy’s Francesco Molinari and three-time winner of the event Adam Scott tied for fifth.

LORENA OCHOA INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY BANAMEX AND JALISCO - SECOND-ROUND NOTES AND INTERVIEWS

Angela Stanford followed-up a first-round 6-under 66 with a second-round 5-under 67 to take solo lead of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Jalisco.

Stanford hit an impressive 12 fairways and 16 greens to catapult herself to a two-stroke lead over three-time LPGA Tour winner Inbee Park.

Stanford, who was the winner of the inaugural Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Jalisco in 2008, recorded six birdies and one bogey during the second round that including a blistering 4-under par 32 on the opening nine.

Stanford, who notched a victory at this year’s HSBS Women’s Champions, is looking to record her sixth career LPGA victory.

Angie, Angie!  Always a fan favorite at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Jalisco, second-round leader Angela Stanford was welcomed with quite the ovation after signing her scorecard.

As Stanford began to proceed down the long line of adoring fans waiting patiently for autographs, the crowd began changing “Angie, Angie” for the winner of the inaugural 2008 event.

“I haven’t either so its kind of fun,” said Stanford. “I think this week is so much fun because it’s so relaxed, and it’s so laid back. Seems like, you know, when things like that happen, it means that the fans are having fun. So that’s good.”

While there are still two more rounds to go this week, a win would make Stanford the event’s first repeat winner and according to her, etching her name on the trophy for a second time would have significant meaning to the Texan.

An Impossible Task? As the second to last tournament on this year’s schedule is underway at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Jalisco, the Rolex Player of the Year race is heating up. Coming into this week, Stacy Lewis currently holds a 58 point lead over Inbee Park forcing Park to win the remaining two events and Lewis finish worse than T8 this week and T10 at next week’s CME Titleholders.

Park, who was paired with Lewis the first two days in Guadalajara, Meixco, took a glance at the Rolex Players of the Year standings after last week’s Mizuno Classic and discovered she had virtually an impossible task ahead of her.

“I mean, after last week, I kind of looked at it, and then, I mean, it’s really almost impossible to catch Stacy,” said Park. “I play with Stacy the last two days and she was playing really great. I think it’s almost impossible for the Player of the Year. I’ll just give my best and just see what happens. I mean, Stacy’s playing great, too so, I think it’s not going to be easy.”

The three-time LPGA Tour winner is determined to go out without a fight however as she currently stands at 9-under this week and is a mere two-strokes behind current leader Angela Stanford. Playing in only her second time in Guadalajara, Mexico, Park thrives on the support she gets from her fans and is honored to play in Lorena’s prestigious tournament.

“It feels great to be here,” said Park. “I mean, I love the people here and especially playing in Lorena’s event, it is a big honor. Especially playing in the same golf tournament with Lorena. I feel very honored and hopefully someday I’ll be like her.”

The Perfect Struggle… Cristie Kerr might have shot a second-round 3-under 69 on Friday but according to the 14-time LPGA Tour winner, it was quite a struggle.

“My swing was almost perfect yesterday and anything less today would have been less,” said Kerr. “I played really well today, managed the game really well but didn’t hit it quite as pure. It kind of felt a little, I don’t know if it was a little tired, but it felt a little shaky out there today, not from a nerves standpoint but it felt different.”

Kerr has not won an LPGA tournament since the 2010 LPGA State Farm Classic but after a two year hiatus from the winner’s circle, she feels confident it won’t be long until she returns to her old winning ways.

“I feel like it, I just have to stay relaxed and do my thing with him out there,” said Kerr. “I just have to not get too high when good things happen and not get too low when you have to keep moving on. I just have to keep doing that. It’s going to happen again, it’s just a matter of when.”

In the middle of this season, Kerr made a caddy change and reunited with long-time caddy Worth Blackwelder. The change seems to be paying off as Kerr finds herself in position to win again as she stands three-strokes behind current leader Angela Stanford.

“It’s been great,” said Kerr of having Blackwelder back on the bag. “He’s a really calming influence over me and keeps me positive. He’s a great caddy.”

Of Note… Tournament hostess Lorena Ochoa shot a second-round even-par and currently stands T19…Michelle Wie followed-up a first-round 6-under 66 with a second-round 3-over 75 to fall into T12.

Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and JaliscoGuadalajara Country Club
Guadalajara, Mexico
November 9, 2012
Second-Round Notes and Interviews
Angela Stanford -11, Rolex Rankings No. 19Inbee Park -9, Rolex Rankings No. 4Cristie Kerr -8, Rolex Rankings No. 15 

Singapore storms threaten McIlroy's money bid

SINGAPORE: Tropical thunderstorms threw the $6 million Barclays Singapore Open into chaos on Friday and threatened Rory McIlroy's bid to seal the European money title this weekend.

After a rain-hit first day, play was suspended twice before finally being abandoned for the day as forked lightning streaked the skies and heavy downpours hit par-71 Sentosa Golf Club.

Thailand's Chapchai Nirat and Simon Dyson held the joint lead midway through their second rounds, with half the field yet to take the course and more rain forecast for the weekend.

Organisers said more delays could force them to slash the event from 72 to 54 holes or to complete the fourth round on Monday. Last year, it was cut to 54 holes and still only finished on the Monday morning.

"At present, our aim is still to complete 72 holes, weather permitting," said tournament director Jose Maria Zamora.

"However, if we do suffer more delays we would then decide, in consultation with the sponsor and promoter, whether to reduce the tournament to 54 holes or complete the fourth round on Monday," he added.

Reducing the tournament could be inconvenient for world number one McIlroy, who was tied for 29th after 12 holes of his second round and needing a high finish to confirm himself as Europe's top prize money-winner this year.

The 23-year-old, bidding to become only the second man to seal the money titles on both sides of the Atlantic in the same year, completed his first round five shots off the pace and went straight back out for round two.

Watched by tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki but suffering from a cold, McIlroy made a wretched start to his second round with bogey and double bogey in his first four holes.

But some razor-sharp iron shots got him back to one-under-par for the tournament before he was hauled off the course for the second time, in a golf buggy with Wozniacki sitting cosily on his lap.

"Nearly 12 hours at the golf course already today!" McIlroy tweeted, with a picture of Wozniacki asleep on a desk. "@CaroWozniacki really enjoying her holiday this week... Not!! #ratherbeonabeach."

Chapchai was a first-round leader at the 2005 Singapore Open, and in 2009 he set a world 72-hole scoring record with a staggering total of 32-under-par 256 to win India's SAIL Open.

However, the victories have since dried up and after only one top-10 finish this year, he said he had taken his father's advice to lose some weight and had been visiting a Buddhist monastery to improve his temperament.

"I've been going there a lot to calm myself. I used to be very hot-tempered and I get frustrated easily especially at such a young age," said Chapchai, 29.

"My parents sent me to the monastery and I became a monk for a while. My temper is better now but I still try to go back to the monastery once in a while."

Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari, his fellow Italian Matteo Manassero and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn were a shot back from Chapchai and Dyson at five-under-par during their second rounds.

Last year's runner-up, Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, hit the shot of the day with a 161-yard hole-in-one on the par-three second - the second ace of the tournament, after Edoardo Molinari's on day one.

Organisers of the event, sometimes referred to as "Asia's Major", have admitted they are keen to move it to a different time of year to avoid the notorious storm delays.
Leading incomplete scores during round two of the Singapore Open:

-6 - Simon Dyson (ENG), Chapchai Nirat (THA)
-5 - Matteo Manassero (ITA), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Thomas Bjorn (DEN)
-4 - George Coetzee (RSA), Chris Wood (ENG), Simon Khan (ENG), Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA), Pablo Martin (ESP)
-3 - Chan Yih-Shin (TPE), Rikard Karlberg (SWE), Pablo Larrazabal (ESP), Paul Casey (ENG), Y.E. Yang (KOR), Kwanchai Tannin (THA)
-2 Anirban Lahiri (IND), Berry Henson (USA), Anders Hansen (DEN), S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND), Choo Tze Huang (SIN), David Howell (ENG), Himmat Rai (IND), Jyoti Randhawa (IND), Richard Green (AUS), Hennie Otto (RSA), Garth Mulroy (RSA), Gunn Charoenkul (THA)

Selected:

-1 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
Even - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Adam Scott (AUS)

Cassandra Kirkland of France came from a stroke behind

Cassandra Kirkland of France came from a stroke behind to claim her first professional title at the Sanya Ladies Open in China.  

The 28-year-old from Paris held off stiff opposition to post a final round 70 on a hot and breezy final day at Yalong Bay Golf Club.

She ended two strokes clear of fellow Frenchwoman Jade Schaeffer and England’s Holly Aitchison, with a further nine players a stroke back in a tie for fourth.

“It was totally unexpected because I’ve struggled so much this year and I didn’t have my 6-iron, so I guess I didn’t have any expectations this week and I didn’t put any pressure on myself. I didn’t feel stressed out there so it was really good,” said the sixth-season Ladies European Tour professional, whose previous best finish was fifth at the 2010 Hero Women’s Indian Open.

Thailand’s Numa Gulyanamitta started with a one stroke lead but Kirkland quickly claimed the advantage after two holes, when she birdied and Gulyanamitta put her second shot into the water.

Kirkland picked up her second shot at the par-three fifth hole making a tricky eight-foot putt to get to six under and was two strokes clear of the chasing pack at the turn.

However, after a bogey on hole 10, her lead was cut to one shot and then she was briefly joined in the lead by Schaeffer, who birdied 14, 15 and 16, only to drop a shot on 17.

When Kirkland holed her second shot for eagle on the 317-yard par-four 14^th hole, hitting a full 53 degree sand wedge into the wind from 65 yards, she pulled three shots clear of the field.

“When I made that shot I was like, I think this is my day. I felt more confident of course,” said Kirkland. She bogeyed the 15^th but was able to close with three solid pars, earning a first prize of €37,500 and a two-year exemption to the Ladies European Tour.

Kirkland moved from 90^th to 45^th on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit and when asked how she would celebrate her victory, she replied: “I’m going with a couple of friends to Shanghai tomorrow so maybe I will celebrate when I go home with my family and friends.”

Her playing partner, Aitchison, shot a 71 containing three birdies and two bogeys and said: “I had a quite frustrating day. I didn’t hole as many putts today. I played pretty solid, made a couple of mistakes, but that was expected in the wind.”

Schaeffer’s 69 included five birdies against two dropped shots but she was delighted. “I had three birdies in a row from the 14^th and I know I dropped one on 17 but I am very happy because my goal was to concentrate on the tough holes and play the last three in level par, which I did,” said Schaeffer, who will caddie for her boyfriend Francois Calmels in European Tour Qualifying School next week.

Young professional Lin Xi Yu, 16, and 35-year-old Yue Xia Lu were the best Chinese players finishing in a share of fourth on three under par after final rounds of 71 and 69 respectively.

There shared fourth with Gulyanamitta (74), Becky Brewerton (69), Sarah Kemp (72), Yue Xia, Carlota Ciganda (71), Pernilla Lindberg (69), Patcharajutar Kongkrapan (70) and Beth Allen (71).

At the prize giving ceremony, Kirkland was driven up the fairway in a golf cart with the French flag flying above before she and caddies from Yalong Bay Golf Club released doves into the sky to symbolise the ‘friendship and freedom of golf.’

The Ladies European Tour now takes a three week break before heading to Gurgaon near Delhi for the Hero Women’s Indian Open, from November 30-December 2.

Tigers and Rory's Bromance

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods do joint CNN interview

Maybe the biggest story of the 2012 PGA Tour season had nothing to do with a golf ball at all, but with the budding relationship between the game's biggest stars.

That would be Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who have been buddy-buddy since the FedEx Cup started and continued their mutual respect tour with this CNN interview the two did in China.

Following the Duel at Jinsha Lake (Rory won by a shot over Tiger), the two sat down with CNN and talked Jack Nicklaus' record, being a pro golfer and, of course, this newfound friendship.

It's a good look into both players, and definitely worth your time.

Tiger and Rory together on video; it's Christmas come early for golf bloggers!

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic

CMNH Classic, Round 2

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Charlie Beljan was worried about keeping his PGA TOUR card when he showed up at Disney for the final tournament of the year. That changed Friday over five frightening hours when he felt a shortness of breath and his heart racing, and eventually told his caddie that he thought he was going to die.

His chest heaved. He called for paramedics at the turn and was told his blood pressure was not good. He sat in the middle of the fairway to rest and kneeled on the green to try to steady himself.

In one of the most remarkable rounds of the year, the 28-year-old rookie fought through it for an 8-under 64 to take a three-shot lead.

Moments after signing his card, Beljan was loaded onto a stretcher. His eyes were closed, his head tilted back -- still wearing his visor -- and his arms were folded across his stomach as paramedics loaded him into an ambulance parked beyond the 18th green at the Palm Course.

"I think he was scared," said his caddie, Rick Adcox. "He kept saying he thought he was going to die. He just had that feeling. I don't know why. But it was spooky."

A few hours later, his agent sent a text to PGA TOUR officials from Celebration Hospital that Beljan was waiting on tests, feeling better and hopeful of being discharged from the hospital Friday evening. In a later text, agent Andy Dawson said even if Beljan remained in the hospital overnight, he still planned to play the third round.

Beljan was in the lead for the first time after any round going into the weekend at the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. It could not have come at a better time because he is No. 139 on the money list, and only the top 125 keep their full cards for next year.

And yet the surreal day ended with Beljan not even sure he would be able to play on the weekend.

The TOUR said Beljan complained of an elevated heart rate, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. Adcox said Beljan told him of numbness in his arms and he felt like he was going to faint.

"I thought they were going to stop him on 10 when they told him what the blood pressure was," he said. "He just said, `I'm going to keep going until either I pass out or they take me off.' I kept saying, `It doesn't matter to me. It's only a golf tournament. You've got many more.'"

The struggle was painfully clear the way Beljan constantly stooped over with his hands on his knees, backed off shots and tried to take deep breaths. That he wound up in the lead at 12-under 132 was simply amazing.

"It was bizarre," said Edward Loar, who played with Beljan. "I don't know if he thought he was going to make it. It sure didn't affect his golf. I heard him call for a paramedic on No. 9. Before the round, he said he was having a hard time breathing. Hopefully, the guy was all right. He was having a hard time breathing in there."

Beljan had a three-shot lead over seven players, including Henrik Stenson, Harris English, Charles Howell III and first-round leader Charlie Wi. He likely would need to finish in about 10th place to move into the top 125 and keep a job for next year -- assuming he can even play.

Golf didn't seem to be a big priority across from the Magic Kingdom, and there were concerns Beljan would not even finish his round.

"I thought a lot of times he was going to stop," Adcox said. "I didn't even think he was going to start. He asked me to go find a doctor at the beginning, and I did. The paramedics ... were on No. 10 waiting on him. Blood pressure wasn't good then. For him to go on, that was pretty much his decision.

When he did get over a shot, the outcome generally was superb.

"He hit four of the best iron shots I've seen on the par 5s," Loar said. "It was awesome to watch."

Adcox realized something wasn't right when Beljan called for a doctor on the practice range. He drilled his long second shot onto the green at the par-5 first hole, and when the caddie handed him a putter, he said Beljan told him, "I don't feel very good."

"He got up there and made the eagle and still said he didn't feel good," Adcox said. "It's been not good all day. The score was good."

The caddie said they didn't pay attention to the score Beljan was putting together, and because they were playing on the Palm Course that doesn't have many leaderboards, they didn't even know Beljan was in the lead until the round was over.

They simply started a countdown -- one more hole, one more shot.

Beljan had two eagles and played the par 5s in 6 under. He struggled to finish, picking up a bogey on the 17th and missing the green to the right on the 18th. Facing a difficult chip, made even tougher that he looked wobbly over the ball, he hit a beautiful shot to 4 feet to save par.

The final two rounds move to the tougher Magnolia Course, which effectively feels like the final stage of q-school for some of the players. Matt Jones and Mark Anderson, in that group at 9-under 135, can avoid going to the second stage of q-school. Wi needs a win to have any hope of getting into the Masters. English is going for his first win.

Rod Pampling will have to sweat out his future at home in Dallas for the second straight year. He is No. 124 on the money list, made bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes and missed the cut by one shot. All that helps Pampling is thatBilly Mayfair, who is No. 125 on the money list, also missed the cut, as did Gary Christian at No. 127.

Kevin Chappell was at No. 123, but he put together another solid round and suddenly is only four shots out of the lead. His card would appear to be safe.

Disney's Magnolia Course: Round 2

EASIEST HOLE TOUGHEST HOLE The par-5 10th hole was the easiest with a Friday scoring average of 4.359. EAGLES: 0 BIRDIES: 43 PARS: 19 BOGEYS: 2OTHER: 0 The par-4 ninth hole was the toughest with a Friday scoring average of 4.422. EAGLES: 0 BIRDIES: 6 PARS: 29  BOGEYS: 26 OTHERS: 3

Disney's Palm Course: Round 2

EASIEST HOLE TOUGHEST HOLE The par-5 seventh hole was the easiest with a Friday scoring average of 4.375. EAGLES: 4 BIRDIES: 36 PARS: 20 BOGEYS: 4OTHER: 0 The par-4 18th hole was the toughest with a Friday scoring average of 4.219. EAGLES: 0 BIRDIES: 5 PARS: 41  BOGEYS: 17 OTHERS: 1

About the leader: Charlie Beljan

• Charlie Beljan is the 40th player to post two eagles in a round this year. • The 2007 University of New Mexico grads career-low round on the PGA TOUR is an 8-under 62, coming in the second round of the Greenbrier Classic earlier this year. • Beljan comes into the week ranked No. 139 on the money list ($527,528). Any finish inside the top-10 is likely to move him into the top-125, allowing him to retain his card for 2013. • Beljan, who won the 2002 U.S. Junior Amateur, is searching for his first career PGA TOUR title in his 22nd start on TOUR this week, as well as his first top-10 finish since a T10 at the McGladrey Classic in his last start. His only other top-10 finish was a T3 at the Greenbrier Classic in July. • Since 1982, eight players have earned their first PGA TOUR titles at the Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals Classic Hal Sutton (1982), Bob Lohr (1988), Jeff Maggert (1993), Brad Bryant (1995), Bob Burns (2002), Ryan Palmer (2004), Lucas Glover (2005), Robert Garrigus (2010). • Prior to this year, Beljans only other starts on TOUR resulted in missed cuts at the 2008 and 2009 U.S. Open. In his only start on the Web.com Tour last year, he finished T64 at the Utah Championship. • Beljan comes to the PGA TOUR in 2012 after finishing T13 at the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. • Beljans best previous position after any round of a PGA TOUR event was T2 at the Greenbrier Classic in July.

Denmark’s Thomas Björn picked up where he left off

Denmark’s Thomas Björn picked up where he left off on Thursday when the second round of the Barclays Singapore Open was completed at Sentosa GC to regain the outright lead.

The leader after the opening day having shot 66, Björn did not hit a shot all day on Friday due to weather delays, and as he finally took to the course this morning he had been usurped at the top by South African George Coetzee and England’s Chris Wood.

A birdie at the second brought the 41 year old within one of the lead, and he did well to save par two holes later after driving into water.

Björn caught Coetzee and Wood with a six footer at the 11th, sent a brilliant iron approach to five feet at the 12th and converted for the outright lead, then doubled his advantage two holes later from 20 feet.

Four straight pars to finish gave the 13-time European Tour winner – who had three victories last season but is yet to register this term – a four under par 67 and nine under total.

“This course can very quickly bite you, especially if you don’t drive the ball well,” said Björn. “The numbers can run up on this golf course, so you’ve got to stay with what you’re doing. 

“I’ve enjoyed these two days, and it’s nice to play some good stuff but there’s still a long way to go in this golf tournament.

“I’ve got two good rounds in the bank but there’s a way to go.”

Earlier perennial bridesmaids Coetzee and Wood had both improved their chances of a maiden victory on The European Tour.

Both players have had 17 top ten finishes without entering the winner’s circle, but Coetzee had a run of five straight birdies from the 18th, his ninth, en route to a best-of-the week 63.

Wood had his maiden professional victory in Thailand in August and the 24 year old birdied four of his last five holes for a second round 65.

Italy’s Francesco Molinari birdied the eighth – his 17th – upon the resumption and as a result advanced to six under with a 67, with overnight joint-leader Simon Dyson dropping back to five under, alongside Australian Adam Scott.

The other overnight leader, Thai Chapchai Nirat, started the day with a birdie but bogeyed the sixth and double bogeyed the seventh to slip back into a large group on four under.

World Number One and Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy reached the halfway stage two under par after a second consecutive 70, while American four-time Major Champion Phil Mickelson made the cut on the mark at one over.

MIZUNO CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS

2012 Mizuno Classic
Final Tournament Summary
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Purse: $1,200,000.00
Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club
Par: 36 36 - 72 Yardage: 6506

Stacy Lewis made a powerful charge in Sunday’s final round to beat second-round leader Bo-Mee Lee by one stroke at the Mizuno Classic. Lewis sat seven shots behind Lee entering Sunday’s round but carded 10 birdies and two bogeys to finish at 8-under par 64. The Texan posted rounds of 71-70-64 to finish 10-under 206 for the week. This marks her fifth-career victory and her fourth this season.        

“I felt it was coming yesterday,” Lewis said. “I played really solid yesterday; I just didn’t make any putts. But to makes those three putts I made coming down the stretch was unbelievable. I didn’t really think I was playing this well coming into the week but I just started playing better and better every day. Putts just started falling today and it was meant to be.”

Lewis was able to close gap after seven birdies and two bogeys with just four holes left to play, putting her one-stroke behind Lee. Three straight birdies in the final three holes pulled Lewis to the lead while Lee still had three holes to play. Lee closed out the round with five pars, missing a birdie opportunity on 18 to pull the two into a sudden death playoff.  

IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE with STACY LEWIS

Mizuno Classic November 4, 2012

Hometown/Current residence – The Woodlands, Texas/Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Birthdate – February 16, 1985– currently 27 years, 8 months, and 19 days

Qualified for LPGA Tour – Earned medalist honors at 2008 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament

Turned Professional – June 2008

• 5th career LPGA victory…2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship, 2012 Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, ShopRite LPGA Classic, Navistar LPGA Classic, Mizuno Classic
• Earns 30 points toward the Rolex Player of the Year race, increasing total to 214 points… leads Inbee Park by 58 points… seeking to be the first American Rolex Player of the Year since Beth Daniel in 1994.
• With the $180,000 first-place check, she crosses the $4 million mark in career earnings to $4,033,088 and increases season earnings to $1,812,055 (2nd behind Inbee Park)
• Previous best finish at the Mizuno Classic was third in 2010
• Mizuno Classic Record: 2009 – T45; 2010 – 3; 2011 – T6
• Adds 40 points to her U.S. Solheim Cup race lead… now has 500 total.
• 15th top-10 finish in 22 events played in 2012… Previous top-10 finishes in 2012 besides her victories include a tie for 2nd at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open (lost in playoff), a tie for 5th at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2012, a tie for 10th at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, a tie for 4th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, a tie for 5th at the Sybase Match Play Championship, a tie for 2nd at the Wegmans LPGA Championship, a tie for 5th at Manulife Financial LPGA Classic, tie for second at the Evian Masters Presented by Societe Generale, tie for sixth at CN Canadian Women’s Open, tie for ninth at Kingsmill Championship, tie for eighth at RICOH Women’s British Open

Player of the Year? Inbee Park made a run for the Rolex Player of the Year prize after winning the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia and placing second at the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship Presented by Audi, putting her within 28 points of Stacy Lewis. With Lewis’ first place finish at the Mizuno Classic, she takes her point total to 214 giving her a 58 lead over Park, who didn’t earn any points this week after finishing tied for 17^th.

“It’s nice,” Lewis said of taking a bigger lead in the race. “I was trying to win the tournament this week, but I figured everything will just take care of itself. I just got in my own way these past couple of weeks. These last two rounds, this is the most fun I’ve had all year. So it’s been a great couple of days.”

Both Lewis and Park are slated to play in the final two events of the LPGA season: the Lorena Ochoa Invitational and the CME Group Titleholders. In order for Park to pass Lewis, Park will need to win both tournaments to earn 60 points, while Lewis will need to place below the top-10.

Should Lewis keep her lead, she will become the first American to win the award since Beth Daniel in 1994.

“Annika and Karrie went on a run and Lorena went on a run,” Lewis said. “There has kind of been a dominant player I think in the past few years and it hasn’t been a player from the U.S. For me I got tired of answering those questions about where all the American players are. That was my goal, just to break that trend.

“Beth Daniel, she was the last one to win it, she told me that she would love for me to win that award so they can stop talking about her.

Pearly whites. Earlier this week, several players had the opportunity to take a boat trip into the Ago Bay and witness one of Japan’s most historic occasions. Two elderly Japanese women who can hold their breath for close to five minutes as they dove to the bottom of the bay to fetch a handful of oysters filled with genuine pearls.

As the winner of the Mizuno Classic, Stacy Lewis received a pearl-studded tiara and a strand of Japan’s finest pearls.

“I haven’t decided who I’m going to give them too yet,” Lewis said. “I think my mom would love them thought.”

Golden ticket winners: Pornanong Phatlum, Jennifer Song, and Alison Walshe punched their "Ticket to CME Group Titleholders" at the Mizuno Classic, each earning a spot in the season-ending CME Group Titleholders event, which will be held Nov. 15-18, 2012 at The TwinEagles in Naples, Fla. The second annual CME Group Titleholders is a season finale with a field made up of three qualifiers from every LPGA Tour tournament.

Of note… JLPGA member Saiki Miki withdrew before final round play began due to neck pains… Momoko Ueda made a solid push to defend the Mizuno Classic title this week, finishing the top-3 following the first and second rounds. Ueda shot a final-round 73 to finish with a tie for 27th at 2-under-par 214… Beatriz Recari was off to a hot start in Sunday’s round with six birdies in the first seven holes, finishing 4-under-par for the day ending in a tie for 9th…

Chinese teen wins Asia-Pacific, spot in Masters

Guan Tianlang is an eighth-grader from China who barely weighs 125 pounds and doesn't hit the golf ball far enough to reach some par 4s. The next stop for the 14-year-old prodigy will be the Masters, where he will tee it up with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson at Augusta National.

Guan completed a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, making a 5-foot par putt on the final hole at Amata Spring Country Club for a one-shot win that earned him an invitation to the Masters.

"I'm really excited about it," Guan said after closing with a 1-under 71. "I will be training maybe a little bit harder and got some more power for that because I'm still growing right now. So it will be great fun."

He is believed to be the youngest male to play in a major championship. Andy Zhang of China, who trained at a golf academy in Florida, was 14 years, 6 months when he qualified for the U.S. Open last summer at The Olympic Club. Guan would be about a month younger.

Woods could have seen this coming.

Just two years ago, Woods was playing in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions pro-am at Sheshan International in Shanghai when Guan was in a group of juniors who played with him on the par-3 17th hole. Woods was amazed that day, not only at the polished swing of a 12-year-old, but the poise Guan showed at performing on such a stage -- more than a thousand people in the gallery, an audience that included Woods, a 14-time major champion.

Even with a spot in the Masters on the line, Guan didn't flinch.

Pan Cheng-tsung of Taiwan, the second-ranked amateur in Asia, made par on the 18th hole for a 65 that left him one shot behind. Guan, the youngest player at the Asia-Pacific Amateur, hits the ball only about 250 yards off the tee, and even a 3-wood for his second shot left him short of the green. Guan had made bogey twice on the 18th during the tournament.

"I think about it a little bit at the last hole, but I'm trying not to get it in my mind," Guan said, referring to the Masters invitation. "So just want to focus on my game. I got a little bit nervous on the last putt because that's the winning putt. But I just do my own routine and everything is good."

He rolled in the final stroke with a belly putter, which he began using in June because he feels more stable over the putts.

Guan's choice of putter is sure to draw more attention to the debate over the club, which is anchored to the body. The USGA and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club are close to announcing a decision on whether to ban such a putting stroke.

For now, it's another amazing feat for the eighth-grader at Zhi Xin Middle School in Guangzhou.

Guan started playing when he was 4, going to the golf course with his parents. He goes to California for about three months during the year, staying with relatives in Los Angeles and San Diego to train. He first got attention last year at the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego when he won his age division (11-12) by 11 shots.

He was invited to play in the China Open in April, making him the youngest competitor in a European Tour-sanctioned event. Guan missed the cut.

"I feel pretty comfortable with that," Guan said. "I didn't do pretty well, but it's still a great experience for me. I think it's going to help me in the Masters."

Guan said he has been watching the Masters every year since 2005, when Woods hit a chip from behind the green on the par-3 16th that hung on the lip for a second before it took one last turn and dropped for birdie, carrying him to a playoff win and his fourth Green Jacket.

Woods is his favorite player. Along with hitting a tee shot with him on the 17th hole during the HSBC Champions pro-am in Shanghai, he met Woods again during a Nike clinic at Mission Hills a year later.

I think he has a strong mind and a strong heart, so I think that's why he's so great, a good player," Guan said. "I played the hole each time with Tiger, and he knows me the second time," Guan said. "We talk a little bit and I just really like him."

Guan would like to play a practice round with Woods at the Masters "or anyone else, because the guys that go to Augusta are all fantastic players."

He became the first Chinese player to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur, which was created by Augusta National and the Royal & Ancient to help inspire growth in the emerging golf nations of Asia. This was the fourth year for the tournament.

Along with getting into the Masters, Guan earns a spot in the final stage of qualifying for the British Open. Pan, the runner-up, also gets a spot in the British Open qualifier.

Guan, who opened with rounds of 66-64 to build a five-shot lead, finished at 15-under 273. He felt the pressure toward the end of the final round after a bogey on the 16th hole. But he handled the island-green 17th with a par, and then clipped a 60-degree sand wedge for his 5-foot par putt and the win.

Oliver Goss of Australia, a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Amateur, closed with a 72 to finish third. Hideki Matsuyama, Asia's No. 1 amateur who was going for his third straight Asia-Pacific Amateur title, shot 68 and was five shots behind. Matsuyama made the cut at the Masters the last two years.

"I'm so excited," Guan said. "I'm really happy to become the youngest player at the Masters and looking forward to going there. I don't know what's going to happen there, but I know I just want to do well."

Guan added to what already has been an historic year at Augusta National, which in August invited Darla Moore and Condoleezza Rice to become the first female members in its 80-year history. In April, there will be two women in green jackets, and an eighth-grader from China trying to win a Green Jacket.

Cassandra Kirkland secures maiden title to end six year wait

Cassandra Kirkland from France Cassandra Kirkland of France came from a stroke behind to claim her first professional title at the Sanya Ladies Open in China.   The 28-year-old from Paris held off stiff opposition to post a final round 70 on a hot and breezy final day at Yalong Bay Golf Club. She ended two strokes clear of fellow Frenchwoman Jade Schaeffer and England’s Holly Aitchison, with a further nine players a stroke back in a tie for fourth. “It was totally unexpected because I’ve struggled so much this year and I didn’t have my 6-iron, so I guess I didn’t have any expectations this week and I didn’t put any pressure on myself. I didn’t feel stressed out there so it was really good,” said the sixth-season Ladies European Tour professional, whose previous best finish was fifth at the 2010 Hero Women’s Indian Open. Thailand’s Numa Gulyanamitta started with a one stroke lead but Kirkland quickly claimed the advantage after two holes, when she birdied and Gulyanamitta put her second shot into the water. Kirkland picked up her second shot at the par-three fifth hole making a tricky eight-foot putt to get to six under and was two strokes clear of the chasing pack at the turn. However, after a bogey on hole 10, her lead was cut to one shot and then she was briefly joined in the lead by Schaeffer, who birdied 14, 15 and 16, only to drop a shot on 17. When Kirkland holed her second shot for eagle on the 317-yard par-four 14th hole, hitting a full 53 degree sand wedge into the wind from 65 yards, she pulled three shots clear of the field. “When I made that shot I was like, I think this is my day. I felt more confident of course,” said Kirkland. She bogeyed the 15th but was able to close with three solid pars, earning a first prize of €37,500 and a two-year exemption to the Ladies European Tour. Kirkland moved from 90th to 45th on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit and when asked how she would celebrate her victory, she replied: “I’m going with a couple of friends to Shanghai tomorrow so maybe I will celebrate when I go home with my family and friends.” Her playing partner, Aitchison, shot a 71 containing three birdies and two bogeys and said: “I had a quite frustrating day. I didn’t hole as many putts today. I played pretty solid, made a couple of mistakes, but that was expected in the wind.” Schaeffer’s 69 included five birdies against two dropped shots but she was delighted. “I had three birdies in a row from the 14th and I know I dropped one on 17 but I am very happy because my goal was to concentrate on the tough holes and play the last three in level par, which I did,” said Schaeffer, who will caddie for her boyfriend Francois Calmels in European Tour Qualifying School next week. Young professional Lin Xi Yu, 16, and 35-year-old Yue Xia Lu were the best Chinese players finishing in a share of fourth on three under par after final rounds of 71 and 69 respectively. There shared fourth with Gulyanamitta (74), Becky Brewerton (69), Sarah Kemp (72), Yue Xia, Carlota Ciganda (71), Pernilla Lindberg (69), Patcharajutar Kongkrapan (70) and Beth Allen (71). At the prize giving ceremony, Kirkland was driven up the fairway in a golf cart with the French flag flying above before she and caddies from Yalong Bay Golf Club released doves into the sky to symbolise the ‘friendship and freedom of golf.’ The Ladies European Tour now takes a three week break before heading to Gurgaon near Delhi for the Hero Women’s Indian Open, from November 30-December 2.

Ian Poulter wins WGC Champions after Lee Westwood fades

Ian Poulter secured his first win of the year with a closing round of 65 at the WGC Champions in Shenzhen.

WGC CHAMPIONS, SHENZHEN, FINAL LEADERBOARD (PAR 72)

• -21: I Poulter (Eng)
 
• -19: J Dufner (US), S Piercy (US), E Els (SA), P Mickelson (US)
 
• -18: L Oosthuizen (SA), L Westwood (Eng)
 
• Selected others: -17: A Scott (Aus); -16: M Kaymer (Ger); -14 B Snedeker (US); -12 L Donald (Eng); -10: K Bradley (US); -9 P Hanson (Swe), J Rose (Eng)

The Englishman, 36, who won his four games in Europe's Ryder Cup win in September, produced eight birdies in his first 15 holes to take control.

Overnight leaders Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen only managed rounds of level par, and Poulter came from four shots back to win by two.

Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson were in a four-way tie for second.

United States duo Jason Dufner and Scott Piercy also finished two shots behind Poulter.

Poulter, who finished fourth at the BMW Masters last week, said: "It's been an amazing five or six weeks with the Ryder Cup and then coming here in good spirits.

"I played well last week and took a lot from that. I knew that if I stayed patient I'd be right there at the end.

"I feel confident with the putter right now. It's so nice to get my hands on another trophy and get back in the winner's circle."

Westwood led by three shots in the early stages but a double bogey at the short fifth stopped his momentum, before three bogeys on the back nine ended his hopes and he finished tied sixth with Oosthuizen.

With the overnight leaders out of contention, Mickelson, Els and defending champion Martin Kaymer were Poulter's biggest threats, only for the German to triple-bogey the short 17th.

Els, failed with a 45-foot birdie attempt at the last, with a bogey on the penultimate hole meaning Mickelson had to hole his second shot on the 18th to force a play-off.

The three-time Masters champion could only manage a par and now goes on to play at next week's Singapore Open.

"I'll see if I can improve one spot there," he said. "It was good for me to come back after having not played since the Ryder Cup and pick up where I left off."

Another man who will be in Singapore is Rory McIlroy, who along with Tiger Woods,skipped Mission Hills but holds a 800,000 euro lead at the top of the European Tour money list after nearest challengers Justin Rose and Peter Hanson finished in a tie for 24th.

McIlroy tweeted his congratulations to Poulter,  saying: "Ballsy up and down at the last, wouldn't expect anything less!"

Poulter, only the second European after Darren Clarke to win two WGC events, has climbed to fourth in the Race to Dubai and 15 in the world rankings.

"Two world championships are great, of course, but a major is the biggest dream," he concluded. "People keep asking all the time 'when, when, when'. I don't know when and I'm trying really hard - I'll do my best next year."

European Tour 2012 money list

1. Rory McIlroy (NI) - 3,407,300 euros

2. Peter Hanson (Swe) - 2,642,524 euros

3. Justin Rose (Eng) - 2,566,323 euros

4. Ian Poulter (Eng) - 2,270,851 euros

5. Branden Grace (SA) - 2,081,961 euros

Updated world rankings

1. Rory McIlroy (NI), 2. Tiger Woods (US), 3. Luke Donald (Eng), 4. Lee Westwood (Eng), 5. Justin Rose (Eng), 6. Adam Scott (Aus), 7. Jason Dufner (US), 8. Webb Simpson (US), 9. Brandt Snedeker (US), 10. Louis Oosthuizen (SA), 11. Bubba Watson (US), 12. Steve Stricker (US), 13. Phil Mickelson (US), 14. Keegan Bradley (US), 15. Ian Poulter (Eng), 16. Nick Watney (US), 17. Matt Kuchar (US), 18. Dustin Johnson (US), 19. Peter Hanson (Swe), 20. Ernie Els (SA)

McIlroy, Nike reach deal, shoot commercials

Rory McIlroy has completed a deal that makes him Nike’s biggest new star,FoxSports.com reported Friday.

McIlroy’s new deal is estimated to be worth at least $200 million, and possibly as much as $250 million, over 10 years, according to the report.

The news comes after Titleist and McIlroy announced earlier this week that the world's No. 1 ranked golfer would not renew a deal. FoxSports.com also is reporting that McIlroy has already filmed his first Nike television commercial, which Nike plans to air next year. The commercial also will feature Tiger Woods, who appears to have helped in the recruiting of McIlroy to Nike.

The commercial will feature McIlroy and Woods “bantering” and “marveling” while hitting Nike’s new red driver, according to the report. Nick Watney and Kyle Stanley are also reported to be in the commercial.

Neither Nike or McIlroy’s representatives have yet confirmed the deal. Nike representatives have repeatedly told GolfChannel.com that they will not comment on speculation.