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	<title>Golf North &#187; Thomas Pieters</title>
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		<title>Horsfield bounces back with another win at Celtic Classic to make it two from three</title>
		<link>https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/horsfield-bounces-back-with-another-win-at-celtic-classic-to-make-it-two-from-three/</link>
		<comments>https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/horsfield-bounces-back-with-another-win-at-celtic-classic-to-make-it-two-from-three/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2020 21:00:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Griffin]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Belgium]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[East Scotland]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[North West]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Scotland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Celtic Classic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Celtic Manor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Connor Syme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[European Tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hero Open]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Race to Dubai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sam Horsfield]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Belfry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thomas Detry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thomas Pieters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[US Open]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/?p=8813</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>SAM Horsfield made European Tour history claiming his second win at the Celtic Classic. The Tour’s Manchester-born star who grew up in Florida became the first player to win, miss a cut, and then win again in the space of three weeks at three different tournaments. A delighted Horsfield said: “It was pretty crazy. My [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/horsfield-bounces-back-with-another-win-at-celtic-classic-to-make-it-two-from-three/">Horsfield bounces back with another win at Celtic Classic to make it two from three</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
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				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<div id="attachment_8814" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Horsfield-Celtic.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-8814" src="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Horsfield-Celtic-1024x748.jpg" alt="Sam Horsfield’s second win on the European Tour in three weeks came in the Celtic Classic at Celtic Manor" width="1024" height="748" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Sam Horsfield’s record reads win, Missed Cut, win after he claimed the Celtic Classic at Celtic Manor – beating Thomas Detry by two shots. Pictures by GETTY IMAGES</p></div>
<p><strong>SAM Horsfield made European Tour history claiming his second win at the Celtic Classic.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The Tour’s Manchester-born star who grew up in Florida became the first player to win, miss a cut, and then win again in the space of three weeks at three different tournaments.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>A delighted Horsfield said:<strong> “</strong>It was pretty crazy. My goal this weekend was to have no bogeys and I was able to do that.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I made a huge putt on 17 to keep that alive. I just played solid all week, really. To have a nice cushion coming into the last was nice.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I never really felt nervous or felt uncomfortable, maybe because I was in this situation a few weeks ago.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“On 15, we decided to lay-up and I could have gone for that green. It’s the perfect three-wood number but there is so much trouble around that green.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“The birdie on 14 was huge because it gave me that option. If you’re one ahead, I think you go for that.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“But making that putt on 14 and then giving myself a pretty easy decision on the tee.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“Then I just sort of brought it home,” added Horsefield, who was certainly more composed speaking after his win then he had been two weeks earlier <a href="http://www.golfsouth.co.uk/sam-horsfield-says-tour-are-real-heroes-after-his-maiden-victory-at-forest-of-arden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">when winning the Hero Open at the Forest of Arden.</a></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Horsfield had fired a superb 64 in Friday’s second round to close the gap on the leaders before Syme’s spectacular 63 on Saturday gave him the overnight lead.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":27297} --></p>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
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<div id="attachment_8815" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Horsfield-R2-CM.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-8815" src="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Horsfield-R2-CM-1024x670.jpg" alt="Sam Horsfield playing in the 2020 Celtic Classic at Celtic Manor" width="1024" height="670" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Sam Horsfield was a shot behind Scot Connor Syme going into Sunday’s final round</p></div>
<h2>Lightning delay can derail Sam</h2>
<p><!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><strong>THE 23-year-old started the day one stroke behind young Scot Connor Syme.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>But they were level after the 2017 Walker Cup player dropped a shot at the first at Celtic Manor’s Twenty Ten Course.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Horsfield – tipped for the top by Ian Poulter some seven years ago – made consecutive birdies on the third and fourth.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Sam then birdied the seventh. But the players then had a two-hour delay as lightning closed in at the home of the 2010 Ryder Cup.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>After the restart Horsfield parred the next six holes before his fourth birdie of the day on 14<sup>th.</sup></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>And he parred his way home to sign for a bogey-free 67 and an 18-under par total.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Horsfield moves to the top of the UK Swing Order of Merit, securing a place at next month’s US Open.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>He will be joined by the other top 10 players on the UK Swing Rankings at Winged Foot at the conclusion of next week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Horsfield is also guaranteed a share of £250,000 as part of the European Tour’s Good for Golf initiative.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The top 10 on the rankings after the ISPS Handa UK Championship at The Belfry in two weeks’, will share the money to donate to charities of their choice.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>
<div id="attachment_8816" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Conor-Syme.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-8816" src="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Conor-Syme-1024x728.jpg" alt="Connor Syme believes he is making progress after finishing third in the 2020 Celtic Classic at Celtic Manor" width="1024" height="728" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Connor Syme was happy with third place despite having a chance to win his maiden title</p></div>
<p><!-- wp:image {"id":27298} --></p>
<p><!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --></p>
<h3>Syme settles for spoils as good run continues</h3>
<p><!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><strong>JUST as at the Hero Open, Belgium’s Thomas Detry finished runner-up to Horsfield – having also posted a four-under par, bogey-free round.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Sharing third place were 2016 Ryder Cup player Thomas Pieters, Middlesex’s Andrew “Beef” Johnston and Syme.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>It was Pieters first start since the resumption of the 2020 Race to Dubai.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Syme, who played in the Walker Cup against the likes of Cameron Champ, Scottie Scheffler and USPGA Champion Collin Morikawa, said: <strong>“</strong>It was another good result.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I’ll have a couple of days away and play next week. My goal is to get in that top 10 for the US Open.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It’s given me a step towards that. It’ll hurt for a couple of days, but it’s a good week.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“If someone offers you third at the start of the week, no matter the circumstances, you’ll take it.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I’ll build on that and hopefully have a good week next week on the same course,” said the 2016 Australian Amateur Champion.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Syme’s sole win in the pro ranks came in last year’s Turkish Airlines Challenge on the Challenge Tour.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The 25-year-old from Kircaldy finished 14th on the Road to Mallorca Order of Merit to earn his full card.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Pieters who recently became a father, said: “It’s always a bit testing with your caddie, getting the numbers right.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“We did an okay job this week. It’s nice to start after five months off with a top 10. We had a bit of a slip up yesterday but still, happy overall.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“My caddie said if I go two-under through the last four then he’ll buy me dinner tonight. So I get free dinner.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>&#8220;At the beginning of the day when it was a bit warmer, my grips were still slippery. I had a lot of trouble this week, I don’t know why.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I’ve never really had that much trouble with it. After the restart helped me because it was colder and I could grip it and I felt a lot more at ease.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I hit a lot better golf shots,” said Pieters, who has four European Tour wins under his belt, having won the NCAA US college title in 2012.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><strong>•For full results in the Celtic Championship, click </strong><a href="https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/celtic-classic-2020/results?round=4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/horsfield-bounces-back-with-another-win-at-celtic-classic-to-make-it-two-from-three/">Horsfield bounces back with another win at Celtic Classic to make it two from three</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
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		<title>Thomas Pieters fires eight birdies despite tougher set up at Dubai Desert Classic</title>
		<link>https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/thomas-pieters-fires-eight-birdies-despite-tougher-set-up-at-dubai-desert-classic/</link>
		<comments>https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/thomas-pieters-fires-eight-birdies-despite-tougher-set-up-at-dubai-desert-classic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:00:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Griffin]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[England South East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[National News]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[North America]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pro News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bryson DeChambeau]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Lipski]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eddie Pepperell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[European Tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Frilford Heath]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lee Westwood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Omega Dubai Desert Classic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryder Cup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thomas Pieters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/?p=7301</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>THOMAS Pieters fired eight birdies in an impressive round of 67 to open up a one-shot lead in the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Much thicker rough than normal and a testing wind made Emirates Golf Club a sterner challenge than in recent years. But the Belgian made a strong start as [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/thomas-pieters-fires-eight-birdies-despite-tougher-set-up-at-dubai-desert-classic/">Thomas Pieters fires eight birdies despite tougher set up at Dubai Desert Classic</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<div id="attachment_7302" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Thomas-Pieters-Dubai.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-7302" src="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Thomas-Pieters-Dubai-1024x616.jpg" alt="THOMAS PIETERS in the first round of the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic" width="1024" height="616" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Thomas Pieters racked up eight birdies at the Emirates Golf Club to lead the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on five-under in much tougher conditions. Picture by GETTY IMAGES</p></div>
<p><strong>THOMAS Pieters fired eight birdies in an impressive round of 67 to open up a one-shot lead in the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Much thicker rough than normal and a testing wind made Emirates Golf Club a sterner challenge than in recent years.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>But the Belgian made a strong start as he chases his fifth European Tour win off the back of a tied 30th result last week in Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The 27-year-old was quickly the man to catch after starting on the 10th, making birdies on his opener, the 11th, 13th, 15th and 18th.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>A double bogey on the first knocked him back and when he followed it with a dropped shot on the next, he had gone from one in front to two behind.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>But the Ryder Cup star birdied the fifth and sixth before hitting a beautiful tee shot into the seventh for his third two of the round to edge a shot ahead of the field.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Pieters, who won the 2016 Made in Denmark to seal his place in Darren Clarke’s European Ryder Cup team at Hazetline, said: “My drives and three woods weren&#8217;t very good.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“But somehow I found the greens and if I did hit a fairway, I took advantage of it.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I played the par threes very well. So that means I&#8217;m hitting my irons pretty good as I did last week and I just rolled in a few putts, which was nice.</p>
<p><strong>“</strong>I&#8217;ve been working on my putting real hard, and I just hope to see some progress.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I saw that today. Hopefully we can keep it up. I know I&#8217;m hitting the ball quite nice, and I&#8217;m just looking forward to the next three days.</p>
<p>“There was nothing easy about today, but I found 14 greens, which is always nice in these kind of conditions.”</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Thomas Pieters admitted it was hard to guage how much progress he had made over the winter break so early in the season.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“You don&#8217;t know what to expect, even though you&#8217;ve put the work in,” said Pieters.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“That competitive mind-set sometimes takes awhile to kick in. But today was, I think, one of my better rounds of the year.”</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>American David Lipsky led the way early in the day with five birdies and a single dropped shot to get to four-under.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Lipsky said:<strong> “</strong> I hit a lot of fairways and greens, and out here with the way the rough is, and how firm the greens are, you&#8217;ve got hit fairways to attack pins.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“The greens are so firm that coming into the greens from the rough is really tough.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I was fortunate. I was first off so the wind died down my first six, seven holes – took advantage of those.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“With how tight the fairways are, and how they are always at angles, finding the fairways is tough out here and that&#8217;s key.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I just want to put myself in contention more often, with a little bit more consistency to my game.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I worked really hard in the off-season with my swing coach and I&#8217;m seeing it play dividends right now.”</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Lipsky sits one-shot clear of a large chasing pack that includes countryman Kurt Kitayama, Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell,</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Pepperell, whose second European Tour win came in the 2018 British Masters at Walton Heath, said: “I&#8217;m really happy with that.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It was clear early on it was going to be very, very challenging,” added Eddie, whose breakthrough win came in Qatar two years ago.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I played a good round of golf today and proud of that – if you know my record on Thursdays.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It was, I imagine, fun to watch. The course has gone from being a five-under cut to, I suspect, being a couple-over cut,” added Pepperell, who signed a contract to switch to Ping clubs earlier this month.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The 28-year-old, from Abingdon, has also adopted a new putting grip this week.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“The claw grip was inspired a little by Lee Westwood. I must say, I&#8217;ve been struggling with the greens,” he said.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I&#8217;ve never been a good putter on Tour, but for me, it&#8217;s about not being a terrible putter.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I was watching the golf last Sunday and I couldn&#8217;t believe how comfortable Lee looked on the short putts, especially.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I thought, I might as well give this a try. I was very good today inside six-eight feet. So I&#8217;m optimistic. Best I&#8217;ve putted for a while.”</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Tied alongside the Frilford Heath member is Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, and Dane Søren Kjeldsen, who made his 600th European Tour appearance last week.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --></p>
<h3>Defending champ DeChambeau: It’s tough</h3>
<p><!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><a href="http://www.golfsouth.co.uk/bryson-breaks-dubai-record-with-maiden-win/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DEFENDING champion Bryson DeChambeau</a> is at two-under after an opening round of 70 left him a shot ahead of Major Champions Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington and Louis Oosthuizen.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>DeChambeau said: <strong>“</strong>It&#8217;s a very, very good test of golf and you have to make sure your wedge game is on, and your iron play is on.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It&#8217;s playing at least four shots harder a day,” said the former US Amateur Champion, comparing the first round to last year when he won outside America for the first time.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>DeChambeau, who won four times in the States in 2018, added: “Iron play was great out of the rough and the fairway, and my wedge game around the greens was impeccable.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“Stuff I&#8217;m doing there is awesome. I&#8217;m putting still really well. I feel like I&#8217;m rolling it on my line except one putt on six today.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“Other than that, it was pretty much smooth sailing and still working on the driver. That&#8217;s a work-in-progress, but it will be a work-in-progress until I get the right stuff in my hands.”</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><strong>•To follow Thomas Pieters and the rest of the field in round two click <a href="https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/omega-dubai-desert-classic-2020/leaderboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> for live scoring.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/thomas-pieters-fires-eight-birdies-despite-tougher-set-up-at-dubai-desert-classic/">Thomas Pieters fires eight birdies despite tougher set up at Dubai Desert Classic</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
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		<title>George Coetzee aiming to double up in Mauritius just as he did at Tshwane Open</title>
		<link>https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/george-coetzee-aiming-to-double-up-in-mauritius-just-as-he-did-at-tshwane-open/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Dec 2019 13:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Griffin]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aberdeenshire]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Asian Tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bel Hombre]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[George Coetzee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paul Lawrie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Romain Langasque]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Thomas Pieters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tshwane Open]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>FOUR-time European Tour winner George Coetzee is aiming to seal a second AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title at Heritage Golf Club, after triumphing in a play-off to win the inaugural edition in 2015. The South African, who finished 60th on the 2019 Race to Dubai, has appeared in all four previous editions of the tournament [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/george-coetzee-aiming-to-double-up-in-mauritius-just-as-he-did-at-tshwane-open/">George Coetzee aiming to double up in Mauritius just as he did at Tshwane Open</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
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				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<div id="attachment_6882" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Coetzee-Mauritius.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-6882" src="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Coetzee-Mauritius-1024x671.jpg" alt="George Coetzee preparing for the 2019 AfrAsia Bank’s Mauritius Open" width="1024" height="671" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">South Africa’s George Coetzee is aiming to add a second AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title at Bel Hombre, after his play-off victory in 2015. Picture by GETTY IMAGES</p></div>
<p><strong>FOUR-time European Tour winner George Coetzee is aiming to seal a second AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title at Heritage Golf Club, after triumphing in a play-off to win the inaugural edition in 2015.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The South African, who finished 60th on the 2019 Race to Dubai, has appeared in all four previous editions of the tournament and is aiming to become the first player to win the title twice.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>If Coetzee can achieve that feat it would also be a second European Tour event that he has won on two occasions, following his Tshwane Open triumphs in 2015 and 2018.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>George Coetzee said: “Lots of good memories from the first year here. I remember playing the 18th hole a couple more times than I wanted to, but it was a good week.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It was nice to win a tournament outside of South Africa, and it was just a special week for me.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It&#8217;s very social, very casual but some very serious golf. It&#8217;s a nice blend of everything,” Coetzee said about playing in Mauritius.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I might be burning out a little bit with the amount of golf I have played but I&#8217;m still feel like I&#8217;m playing pretty well,” said Coetzee, who lost an opportunity to win the French Open at Le Paris National in October.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>After a relatively six months after his second place finish in Qatar, in March, Coetzee’s late collapse on the notoriously difficult course that staged the 2018 Ryder Cup, allowed Belgium’s Nicholas Colsearts to claim his first win since 2012.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“At the moment I&#8217;m just enjoying the golf and then over Christmas I&#8217;ll put my plans together,” added George Coetzee about forming a scheduling for 2020 having played 29 times in the past 12 months.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Coetzee’s victory in Bel Ombre four years ago was a special one, as it represented the first title he had won outside of his home country, after opening his European Tour account with victory at the 2014 Joburg Open.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --></p>
<h3><a href="http://www.golfsouth.co.uk/paul-lawrie-to-captain-european-team-at-2020-junior-ryder-cup-at-blue-mound-golf-and-country-club/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lawrie named 2020 Junior Ryder Cup captain</a></h3>
<p><!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Scottish Major winner Paul Lawrie is looking forward to an altogether different Mauritius double – after making his debut in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, he will tee it up in the Staysure Tour’s season-ending MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius next week.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The 1999 Open Champion – who was announced as the 2020 European Junior Ryder Cup Captain today (Wednesday) – turned 50 in January.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>And the two-time Ryder Cup player announced his arrival on the senior circuit in some style, winning the Scottish Senior Open in the summer.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Lawrie’s looking forward to competing with some of the newer faces on European, Asian and Sunshine Tours when the action in the tri-sanctioned tournament gets under way at Heritage Golf Club on Thursday.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>But he will also be soaking up all that Mauritius has to offer.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Lawrie said<strong>: “</strong>It&#8217;s my first time in Mauritius, it&#8217;s beautiful, absolutely lovely.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“ I looked at the schedule and saw that European Tour was here this week and the Staysure Tour up the coast next week. I thought – it&#8217;s the perfect two weeks.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“For the players that are getting older and older like me, and playing seniors more often, it&#8217;s weird. You get on the range and you don&#8217;t know half the Tour when you come to hit balls.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“That&#8217;s a good thing, you need to get young talent in and keep the conveyor belt rolling, as it were.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“The scoring is just brilliant, the standard on the Tour is getting better and better. That&#8217;s only going to be a good thing for everyone.”</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --></p>
<h2>Langasque looking to go one better</h2>
<p><!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><strong>THE field at the second event on the 2020 Race to Dubai also includes a host of promising young players including Romain Langasque – who finished in third place the last time the event was played at this venue two years ago.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Langasque, who won the 2015 Amateur Championship at Carnoustie said: “It’s always a pleasure to come back here, and especially to this course where I finished third two years ago.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It’s a place where I feel great, so I’m really happy to be here. I’ve been a Heritage ambassador for one year now.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It’s always good to come back here because of the resort, but also because of the course. It’s a very challenging course, especially with the wind like today.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“This is a place where it is windy most of the time, so we have to learn to play with it.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“But the good thing is that because of the wind there are so many options on this course – you can be offensive or less so,” added Langasque, who won the 2016 Spanish Amateur by beating Hampshire’s Scott Gregory in the final.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The Frenchman is joined on the Indian Ocean island by Final Stage Qualifying School winner Benjamin Poke, from Denmark.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Two other notable debutants are teeing it up in Mauritius – four-time European Tour winner Thomas Pieters, who made his Ryder Cup debut in the heavy defeat at Hazeltine, under Darren Clarke in 2016, and his compatriot and fellow ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf winner Thomas Detry.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><strong>•For first round tee times in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open click </strong><a href="https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/afrasia-bank-mauritius-open-2020/tee-times" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/george-coetzee-aiming-to-double-up-in-mauritius-just-as-he-did-at-tshwane-open/">George Coetzee aiming to double up in Mauritius just as he did at Tshwane Open</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
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		<title>AfrAsia Mauritius Bank Open sees Colsearts back on familiar ground at Heritage</title>
		<link>https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/afrasia-mauritius-bank-open-sees-colsearts-back-on-familiar-ground-at-heritage/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2019 15:58:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Griffin]]></dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[Christiaan Bezuidenhout]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/?p=6860</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>BELGIAN stars Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Pieters are looking forward to rounding off a successful year in style when they tee it up in the idyllic surroundings of Heritage Golf Club for this week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. The two former Ryder Cup players returned to winning ways during the 2019 season – and now [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/afrasia-mauritius-bank-open-sees-colsearts-back-on-familiar-ground-at-heritage/">AfrAsia Mauritius Bank Open sees Colsearts back on familiar ground at Heritage</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
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				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<div id="attachment_6861" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Colsaerts.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-6861" src="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Colsaerts-1024x682.jpg" alt="Nicholas Colsearts preparing for the 2019 AfrAsia Mauritius Bank Open at Heritage Golf Club" width="1024" height="682" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Nicholas Colsearts has been a regular visitor to Mauritius over the last decade&#8230; now as a recent European Tour winner he has his sights set on playing in more Majors and another Ryder Cup. Picture by GETTY IMAGES</p></div>
<p><strong>BELGIAN stars Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Pieters are looking forward to rounding off a successful year in style when they tee it up in the idyllic surroundings of Heritage Golf Club for this week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The two former Ryder Cup players returned to winning ways during the 2019 season – and now have the opportunity to claim another title before the year is out in the second event of the 2020 Race to Dubai.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The chance to work their way into European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington’s team for the next edition of the biennial contest in September is in the back of both of their minds.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>But Colsaerts is first and foremost relishing the opportunity to play with freedom in the coming months, after erasing doubts about securing his 2020 card by lifting his third European Tour trophy at the Amundi Open de France, at Le Paris National, in October.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Colsaerts, who has had a home at Ernie Els’ Anihita Golf Club on the east coast of the island in the Indian Ocean for some time, said after the French win secured his status: “I came from not knowing if I had to go to Q-School to now having two years’ exempt.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I played a lot of events last year. We have a young boy at home and you sometimes wish you could spend more time at home, which will definitely be the case next year, bit of a lighter schedule,” added Colsearts who became a father for the first time in 2019.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“Being able to play these events with a different mindset is something that I look forward to.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“You always have pretty much the same goals, you want to add as many lines as possible to your CV. We&#8217;re into a Ryder Cup year, and I want to keep playing big events.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I haven&#8217;t played in the Majors for a couple of years now, so it would be good to have a chance again.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“The mindset will be totally different. I really look forward to 2020 and being able to tee it up a bit more freely and try to make the most out of these weeks.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I&#8217;m fortunate enough to have been coming to Mauritius for 20 years. It&#8217;s always been a very popular destination for golfers from Europe in winter.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“The list of qualities that this place has is endless – the hospitality, the scenery, the food, the weather and now golf tournaments as well.&#8221;</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>While Colsaerts – who was one of the heroes in the Ryder Cup win at Medinah in 2012 – has been a regular visitor to Mauritius for two decades, this week is an all-new experience for his compatriot Pieters, who is soaking up the island life for the first time.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>After claiming the D+D Real Czech Masters title in August, the 2016 Ryder Cup star enjoyed a strong end to the season with a tied sixth place finish at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Pieters is looking forward to carrying that form in to the new season at the fifth edition of the unique island event, tri-sanctioned with the Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It was lovely to finish off with a good result in Dubai,” said Pieters. “I played pretty well and felt like my game was turning.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“It&#8217;s almost a shame that the season had to end for me in Dubai. Happy to be playing here – it&#8217;s the first time I have played before Abu Dhabi. It&#8217;s almost like getting a bit of a head start. Looking forward to it.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“Ryder Cup is going to be on my mind and on my list, but there is so much golf to be played before then. Any points will help.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“This week at some point it will pop into my mind. If you&#8217;re having a bad stretch during a round you just remind yourself that every point counts and every shot counts. That&#8217;s the mindset you need to have.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I&#8217;m absolutely loving it here. I&#8217;ve never been on really white beaches before, the water is so clear, beautiful scenery.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“I went swimming with dolphins on Sunday, which was one of the coolest things I&#8217;ve ever done.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>“You can go snorkelling on the beach and then it&#8217;s a five-minute stroll to the driving range. You&#8217;ve got everything you need here.”</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --></p>
<h3>Bezuidenhout and Harding lead the African entries with fellow winners Law and McEvoy</h3>
<p><!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"left"} --></p>
<p><strong>ALSO in the field for this this week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open are South African winners Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Justin Hardin, who both won on the 2019 season.</strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The pair are joined by Essex’s Richard McEvoy, who claimed victory in the 2018 Porsche European Open, and Scotland’s David Law, who won the ISPS Handa Vic Open, in Australia, in February.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Meanwhile Lancashire’s Lee Slattery has been given a sponsor’s invite after the Formby Hall pro lost his Tour card and was unable to finish in the top 25 at last month European Tour Qualfying School, in Spain.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>Scotland’s Paul Lawrie the 1999 Open Champion at Carnoustie, who like Law hails from Aberdeen, is also one of the 10 players to receive a sponsor’s inviate along with Spaniard Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>The seven-time European Tour winner who lost his card having moved to Florida, failed to keep his PGA Tour card in 2015 after two years playing in the States.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>He played on the Web.com Tour and returned to the top level in 2017 – only to fail to make the top 125 on the FedEx Cup money list by just one spot, forcing him to return to Europe for the past two years.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p>A 104th place finish on the Race to Dubai kept a card for 2019, but he was in 127th place last month missing out on a place in the top 115 that would hav secured his status for 2020 by 67.4 points.</p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<p><strong>•For tee times at this week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open click <a href="http://frAsia Bank Mauritius Open." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here.</a></strong></p>
<p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>
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		<title>Jack Senior having his moments on Challenge Tour</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Sep 2019 05:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Griffin]]></dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[<p>FOR the second time in the last three weeks, Jack Senior finds himself on top of a leaderboard after opening the KPMG Trophy with rounds of 63 and 66 to take a one-shot lead on 13-under. Through the first two days, the Englishman has carded 16 birdies against only three bogeys and is displaying the [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/jack-senior-having-his-moments-on-challenge-tour/">Jack Senior having his moments on Challenge Tour</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p>
<div id="attachment_6020" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Senior-2.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-6020" src="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Senior-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="Jack Senior playing in the 2019 KMPG Trophy" width="1024" height="683" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Jack Senior is looking to follow up his European Challenge Tour win in Northern Ireland two weeks ago, with victory in Belgium, on Sunday. Picture by GETTY IMAGES</p></div>
<p><strong>FOR the second time in the last three weeks, Jack Senior finds himself on top of a leaderboard after opening the KPMG Trophy with rounds of 63 and 66 to take a one-shot lead on 13-under.</strong></p>
<p>Through the first two days, the Englishman has carded 16 birdies against only three bogeys and is displaying the form which earned him a second-career European Challenge Tour victory only two weeks ago in the ISPS Handa World Invitational, in Northern Ireland.</p>
<p>Senior then backed up the win with a top 15 finish in last week’s Rolex Trophy and through the first 36-holes at Millennium Golf, things have continued to go his way.</p>
<p>“I had two chip-ins, back-to-back at six and seven and then drove the green and made birdie at eight,” Senior said.</p>
<p>“I think when you start to see them go in, it’s funny because you could stand there and hit good putts and not really hole anything and your confidence starts to drain away a little bit, but I feel over the last couple of weeks I felt like I rolled the ball well.”</p>
<p>The 31-year-old has been a consistent performer on the European Challenge Tour over the past six-seasons, but sitting in 11<sup>th</sup> on the Road to Mallorca rankings, he has played his way into the coveted top-15, and a strong result in Belgium could further bolster his chances of graduating to the European Tour at the end of the season.</p>
<p>Senior said: “I had my girlfriend on the bag the last couple of weeks. I think it just helps having someone there by your side at times, who knows you really well and knows what to say at the right times.</p>
<p>“Although she’s not here this week, it’s a bit of a continuation on how things have been going. I just feel confident on the greens and confident with the putter at the minute,” said Senior, who won the Hampshire Hog at North Hants GC, as an amateur.</p>
<p>“How long that will last nobody knows, so I’ve just got to go out tomorrow with the same attitude and see where we end up.”</p>
<p>Victory at the KPMG Trophy will not come easily, as 29 players sit within five strokes of the lead at the halfway point.</p>
<p>The chasing pack is led by a European Tour winner in Surrey’s Ross McGowan and Germany’s Sebastian Heisele, who fired a 10-under par 61 on Thursday, which still stands as the low-round of the week.</p>
<p>Home-favourite Christopher Mivis – who grew up playing Millennium Golf with friend and fellow-countryman Thomas Pieters – opened the KPMG Trophy with a pair of 67s to hold low-Belgian honours through the first two rounds.</p>
<p>In total, 74 players survived the cut, which fell on five-under. The 137 strokes or fewer needed to advance to the weekend marked the lowest cut, in terms of cumulative score, this season on the Challenge Tour.</p>
<p>Day three of the KPMG Trophy begins on Saturday at 7:20am with the lead group of Senior, McGowan and Heisele set to go at 11:40am. For live scoring click <a href="http://www.europeantour.com/challengetour/season=2019/tournamentid=2019762/leaderboard/index.html#/results" target="_blank">here.</a></p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/jack-senior-having-his-moments-on-challenge-tour/">Jack Senior having his moments on Challenge Tour</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
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		<title>Pieters hopes to have Maybank Championship in the bag</title>
		<link>https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/pieters-hopes-to-have-maybank-in-the-bag/</link>
		<comments>https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/pieters-hopes-to-have-maybank-in-the-bag/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2019 13:51:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Griffin]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Africa]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Saujana Golf and Country Club]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thomas Pieters]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>BELGIUM’S Thomas Pieters will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Maybank Championship after the golf course showed its teeth on Friday. The big-hitting Belgian carded four birdies and a single bogey in his second round at Saujana Golf and Country Club to move to eight-under par. Pieters said: “I struggled off the [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk/pieters-hopes-to-have-maybank-in-the-bag/">Pieters hopes to have Maybank Championship in the bag</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.golfnorth.co.uk">Golf North</a>.</p>
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				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_4567" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PietersR2.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-4567" src="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PietersR2-1024x689.jpg" alt="A three-under par 69 at Malaysia’s Saujana Country Club gave Belgium’s Thomas Pieters a one-shot lead at the Maybank Championship with two rounds to go. Picture by GETTY IMAGES" width="1024" height="689" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">A three-under par 69 at Malaysia’s Saujana Country Club gave Belgium’s Thomas Pieters a one-shot lead at the Maybank Championship with two rounds to go. Picture by GETTY IMAGES</p></div>
<p><strong>BELGIUM’S Thomas Pieters will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Maybank Championship after the golf course showed its teeth on Friday.</strong></p>
<p>The big-hitting Belgian carded four birdies and a single bogey in his second round at Saujana Golf and Country Club to move to eight-under par.</p>
<p>Pieters said: “I struggled off the tee early on, at the end it was a lot better. It didn&#8217;t feel like a good day to me, I made the best of what I had.</p>
<p>“I gave myself a lot of chances but I couldn&#8217;t seem to get the ball in the hole.</p>
<p>“I birdied 16, the par three, it was a nice putt. But other than that I felt like I was missing putts all over.</p>
<p>“I tried not to over read the putt on 16. When you miss a couple of putts you try to read to much into it. I just put it down, looked once, and gave it a go.”</p>
<p>Apart from his struggle on the greens, the main talkling point of the week has been about Pieters unusual golf bag – which lacks a sponsor.</p>
<p>Pieters has turned it into an advertisement and revealed: “It was my idea.</p>
<p>“My brother has a creative company, but it was actually my idea. I thought, why not, it&#8217;s empty. I thought it was quite funny, and it got picked up this week. I think it was Jamie Gough that tweeted and a few people were talking about it.</p>
<p>“If Eddie Pepperell wants to put his face on it, I will happily take it.”</p>
<p>It had seemed Pieters and his fellow challengers might be fighting for second rather than top spot when <a href="http://www.golfnorth.co.uk/fraser-happy-to-be-back-in-action-at-maybank/" target="_blank">overnight co-leader Nacho Elvira</a> opened up a four-stroke lead over the chasing pack early in the afternoon.</p>
<p>But as the wind picked up, the Spaniard dropped three shots in two holes on the back nine to slip to seven-under, where he sits alongside Indonesia&#8217;s Danny Masrin in a tie for second place.</p>
<p>Nacho said: “I still feel like I&#8217;m playing solid. I struggled a bit on 14, I three-putted on 13. I had a really easy birdie chance then I three putted.</p>
<p>“Fourteen is a really tough hole, everybody knows it. The pin was tucked, I had a hard chip, anyway, double there and then three putted the next hole.</p>
<p>“Overall I&#8217;m happy. I&#8217;m hitting the ball fine, I&#8217;m putting myself in position to find the pins and I&#8217;m looking forward to the weekend.</p>
<p>“The tee shots feel like a dream. To be honest I&#8217;m picking up a little bit of confidence as the season goes on. I&#8217;m happy the way I&#8217;m hitting it right now.”</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a first appearance at this event – which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours – for four-time Major winner Ernie Els.</p>
<p>And after a second round 70 he sits at six-under alongside fellow South African Dean Burmester, American pair David Lipsky and Paul Peterson, Jazz Janewattananond, from Thailand, Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer and Australian Lucas Herbert.</p>
<p>Els said: “I think scoring conditions are a bit tougher than last year. I&#8217;ve never played here before but from what I&#8217;ve heard the guys usually make a lot of birdies.</p>
<p>“With the new greens the ball is releasing a bit and I kind of like that.  The last four years have been a real struggle, so I&#8217;m really happy that I&#8217;m playing good golf again.</p>
<p>“My body feels good and the ball striking is there now. On the greens I&#8217;m starting to feel really comfortable, so that means I can have a chance again to play with these guys.</p>
<p>“That&#8217;s what I want, to feel like I can have a chance playing Saturdays and Sundays and that&#8217;s kind of my goal.</p>
<p>“I&#8217;ve got to keep doing what I&#8217;m doing and eliminate the little mistakes.</p>
<p>“The one on 17 wasn&#8217;t very good. Got to try to get into the 60s and if you&#8217;re within three or four going into Sunday you&#8217;ve got a chance.</p>
<p>“Shubhankar showed that last year, coming out of the pack and winning.”</p>
<p>German Keiffer said: “I played really good today tee-to-green, hit a couple of wedges really close. I even had a few mid-range putts that just burned the edges, so really good.</p>
<p>“I played well here last year, played OK two years ago. You don&#8217;t need to be really straight off the tee but if you hit a wild one then it&#8217;s gone so that kind of suits me.</p>
<p>“The wind direction suits me better than last year because I can&#8217;t quite reach the par fives this year. The wedge game was very good today, so that was the key.</p>
<p>“I&#8217;m very happy with the way I&#8217;m playing. Since I started working with my new coach (Ian Holloway) last year, I&#8217;ve been steadily getting better.</p>
<p>“Just focus on the process, that&#8217;s all you can do, and it&#8217;s been working for me.”</p>
<p><strong>•For live scoring in the third round of the Maybank Championship click <a href="https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/maybank-championship-2019/leaderboard" target="_blank">here.</a></strong></p>
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