ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Oliver Wilson of England closed in on a maiden European Tour title when he moved three strokes clear of the field in the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Saturday.

Wilson, playing with an invite as he lost full playing rights on tour in 2011, shot a 7-under-par 65 on the Old Course at St. Andrews to tally 15-under 201.

On his tail at 12 under were four players: World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (64), England’s Tommy Fleetwood (62), and the French pair of Raphael Jacquelin (69) and Alexander Levy (68).

Heavy overnight rain caused an hour’s delay to the start of play, and officials adopted the preferred lie rule, meaning Fleetwood’s and Louis Oosthuizen’s 10-under 62s weren’t counted as tying the Old Course record.

Before he lost his card, Wilson, a 2008 Ryder Cup player, was runner-up nine times on tour, including here in 2009. This is his 229th tour event.

“There is a long 18 holes still to go, so it will be a long day, but to win would mean a lot to me,” said Wilson, ranked 792.

“I just love coming to play golf here on the three courses, and that walk up the 18th on the Old Course is pretty cool.”

He also wasn’t fazed when McIlroy surged on the front nine to tie him briefly.

McIlroy birdied five straight holes and made the turn on 30. But he hit into a bunker on the 16th, took two shots to get out and bogeyed the hole he eagled the day before. He finished with a 64, one off his best on the course.

“That was mission accomplished,” McIlroy said.

“The last four holes wasn’t really what I wanted but any time you shoot a score like that around St. Andrews, you have to be happy. Got myself into contention going into tomorrow, and Dad and I are going to get to play St. Andrews on his birthday tomorrow which will be a huge treat for both of us.”

Fellow Ryder Cup teammate Stephen Gallacher (69) at 9 under was five shots under the cut. But their other teammates Victor Dubuisson (75) at 1 under, and Martin Kaymer (71) at 1 over missed out.

Caroline Hedwall et Stacy Lewis se partagent la tête de la Classique Reignwood à l’issue de la troisième ronde disputée samedi, sur les allées du Pine Valley Golf Resort & Country Club, à Pékin.

Hedwall, qui a calé cinq oiselets sur le neuf de retour, a joué 68 et partage présentement la tête avec Stacy Lewis.

Lewis, qui avait débuté la troisième ronde avec deux coups d’avance, a chuté au classement après avoir commis un troisième boguey en 11 trous. Elle a toutefois repris du poil de la bête avec trois oiselets consécutifs à partir du 13e trou, concluant ainsi sa ronde en retranchant un dernier coup à la normale au 18e.

Les meneuses détiennent présentement deux coups d’avance sur Brittany Lang et Mirim Lee, qui se partagent la troisième position à -11.

Caroline Masson et Inbee Park, pour leur part, sont à égalité en cinquième place, devant II Hee Lee, Belen Mozo, Suzann Pettersen et Sun-Young Yoo.

Notons qu’aucune Canadienne ne prend part à ce tournoi.

BEIJING – Stacy Lewis recovered from a slow start with four birdies on the back nine Saturday to take a share of the lead with Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall heading into the final round of the LPGA Reignwood Classic.

The top-ranked Lewis started the day with a two-stroke lead over fellow American Brittany Lang, but fell back with three bogeys through the 11th hole. She then made three straight birdies from No. 13 before closing with a birdie on the 18th to regain a share of the lead with a 72.

“I made some bad swings early,” Lewis said. “Probably the swing I made on 13, on the par 3, I don’t know what it was, but things just kind of seemed to click after that. You know, just kind of found some confidence in my golf swing from there, and then making the putts too, which was nice.”

Hedwall made five birdies on the back nine to shoot a 5-under 68. She will be aiming for her first career LPGA title on Sunday, while Lewis will be trying to win her fourth this year.

“I put myself in the position a few times but just haven’t won yet,” the Swede said. “When I go out there tomorrow I’m trying to just be patient and be relaxed about it though, because you can’t force anything when you’re playing golf.”

Hedwall and Lewis were at 13-under 206 at Pine Valley Golf Club.

Lewis said another title would also help put distance over her closest rivals in the race for LPGA player of the year.

“A win this week would help that a lot,” she said. “I don’t think I’m comfortable until the last tournament and nobody else can beat me. It’s one of those things I don’t think you get too comfortable with. The players behind me are great players and can win two tournaments in a row pretty easily.”

Second-ranked Inbee Park of South Korea stayed in contention Sunday with a 68. She’s tied for fifth with Germany’s Caroline Masson (71) at 10-under 209.

“I had really nothing to lose really today,” Park said. “I was in the middle about 12th or 15th place. I had to make some kind of move today to have a chance tomorrow.”

Lang shot a 72 to sit in third with South Korea’s Mirim Lee (70) at 11 under.

VENICE, Fla. – Ginger Howard of Bradenton, Fla. shot a 1-under 71 Friday to earn medalist honors at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II at Plantation Golf and Country Club.  Howard finished with a four-day total of 9-under 289, one stroke clear of Alison Lee of Valencia, Calif.

The cut was made at 7-over 295 and 85 will advance to Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

Howard won medalist honors in 2011 at LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II and will be heading to her fourth final stage. She is the first player to medal twice.

“It is really neat to medal again,” said 20-year-old Howard. “It is a different feeling this time around. The first time I felt like I was going to get something and that it was over and that I accomplished something, but now I realize that I have not really accomplished anything yet and I am just going to stay humble this time around.”

“Last time, I was like ‘let’s go celebrate’ but this time I am going to stay poised.”

Leading the Canadians was Kelowna, B.C.’s Samantha Richdale, who finished at 5-under 283.

Team Canada’s Augusta James carded a final round 69 to tie for 10th at 3-under 285.

Mississauga, Ont.’s Brogan McKinnon led thru 36 holes and finished tied for 51st at 3-over 291.

Amateur SooBin Kim of Coquitlam, B.C. climbed into the top 80 thanks to a final round 69. She finished the event at 6-over 294.

Brittany Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. rounded out the Canadians advancing to the final stage of LPGA Tour Q-School. She tied for 78th at 7-over 295.

Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament will be held December 3-7 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.  The top 20 at final stage will earn category 12 status on the LPGA Tour priority list, while 21-45 will earn category 17 status on the priority list.

Players that finished 72 holes at Stage II, but did not advance to Stage III will have category “I” status on the Symetra Tour priority list.

Players that complete a minimum of 72 holes at Stage III and do not receive 2015 LPGA membership in category 12 will receive category “D” status on the Symetra Tour priority list.

Click here for full scoring

MARKHAM, Ont. — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) has announced the recipients of the 2014 Volunteer of the Year, District Volunteer of the Year, Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award, Paul “Fitz” Fitzgerald Award and Len and Went Award. The announcement was made Oct. 2, at a Volunteer Appreciation Day at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

The GAO volunteer recognition program has been designed to recognize outstanding performance and contributions by volunteers who have played an instrumental role in promoting the growth and development of amateur golf throughout the province of Ontario while preserving the integrity and traditions of the game.

Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award — Ian Giles

The Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award is considered the highest honour recognizing individual service to the game of golf in Ontario. The award is named after Richard H. Grimm, who was affectionately known as “Mr. Canadian Open” for his service to the event from 1965 to 1993. Throughout his time in golf, he was known a masterful coordinator, promoter, official, fan, and – most importantly – passionate volunteer who put his heart and soul into making golf better. The GAO’s Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual’s meritorious service to the game of golf in Ontario as a volunteer. Recipients of this award embody the principles of integrity, dignity and commitment, which are central to the volunteer experience and to Mr. Grimm’s persona.

The 2014 recipient, Hamilton’s Ian Giles, has been involved with volunteering in golf for more than 40 years. From 1982-1989 he served as the Men’s Section President at his home club Chedoke Golf Club. During that time he acted as the Host Club Chair for the Ontario and Canadian Junior Boys’ Championship.  In 2001, Giles acted as the President of the Ontario Golf Association (OGA) and the next year helped lead the association through the amalgamation with the Ontario Ladies Golf Association.  Before becoming President, Giles spent six years as a Director on the OGA board chairing numerous committees including the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame committee in 2007 and 2008.

Giles went on to become a Governor with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada), from 2003-2012, where he chaired many national Tournaments. In 2010, he achieved his certification as a level 4 rules official. Giles continues to serve the GAO as a site coordinator, senior rules official, rules official and tournament official as well as a member of the GAO Officials Development Committee.

Volunteer of the Year — John Turner

The GAO Volunteer of the Year Award has been designed to recognize and honour a GAO volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding performance and contributions while preserving the integrity and traditions of the game. This year the award is presented to Bayfield resident John Turner. Turner has been a volunteer with the GAO since 2008.  Turner joined the GAO already with many years of experience as an accomplished rules official and jumped into the role of senior rules official with the association.

Turner has been part of the GAO Board of Directors since 2010 and has served as the Officials Development Chair since 2013. He has also been part of the Finance, Sport and Membership committees. Turner has been active in setting professional standards for GAO officials. He has conducted weekly online educational seminars to help educate and prepare officials for certification or re-certification.

During the season, Turner can still be found at GAO and Golf Canada events as a rules official.

District Volunteer of the Year — Gerry Bower

The District Volunteer of the Year Award has been designed to recognize those volunteers who embody the spirit of volunteerism and have shown dedication by making a significant contribution in promoting, supporting and expanding amateur golf within their district.

Kanata Resident and Greensmere Golf Club member Gerry Bower is the 2014 recipient of the award. Bower has been long-time member of Golf Canada and a GAO member for the past three. He became a rules official in 2007 and has served on the Ottawa Valley Golf Association (OVGA) Board as its Rules Committee Chair for the past five years.

During the winter, Bower conducts weekly Go To Meeting sessions in order to train and prepare the members of the OVGA Rules Committee for their various levels of exams.  He works an average of 25-30 days for the district alone on tournaments, plus provides support for the GAO qualifiers as a site coordinator/rules official and at championships as senior rules official. The last two years Bower has participated as a member of the GAO’s Officials Development Committee.

Paul “Fitz” Fitzgerald Award — Bob Heath

The Paul “Fitz” Fitzgerald Award is to recognize Ontario Course Raters that have demonstrated leadership and dedication to the promotion of the course rating system by achieving a combination of the following: completing courses on schedule, tending to extra rating requests, helping to train raters, attending a national course rating calibration seminar and/or instructing at a seminar.

This year, the award goes to Bob Heath. Heath a resident of Newmarket and member of the South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club, has been consistent in completing his schedule in a timely manner. He has always been willing to help, most recently by helping the Niagara team complete their schedule as well as provided additional training to their raters. In 2011, Heath helped train the Waterloo team, from scratch, and they are now one of the strongest rating teams in the province. Heath has attended the national course rating seminar on multiple occasions and presented several items at this year’s provincial seminar.

In addition to achieving all of the benchmarks, Heath has been instrumental in helping the GAO put together a Course Rater Certification Program. Heath has been a huge asset to the course-rating department for several years.

Len and Went Award

The “Len and Went Award” is presented annually to individuals who have achieved National (Level 4) Certification in the Rules of Golf. Achieving the level this year are:

• Blake Wimperis
• Brad Elliot
• Mike O’Neill

What goes around comes around in Adam Brown’s world.

Forty years ago this past summer Brown picked up the phone, put his index finger in the rotary phone at his parents’ home in Dundas, ON and dialed long distance to a town called Woodbridge.

News a fabulous new golf course named The National Golf Club designed by the team of American golf course architects George and Tom Fazio had been buzzing around the province for a few months and Brown wanted to see what it was all about for himself.

By that time the 21-year-old had won the Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship, lost in a playoff to Kelly Roberts in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship and was playing well in the US on a scholarship at Miami University in Oxford Ohio.

“I grew up trying to be like Jack (Nicklaus),” said Brown who started to play the game at the age of nine at what is now Hidden Lake GC in Burlington followed by Glendale G&CC. “I have never met Jack, but I did have one of my first lessons from his instructor Jim Flick at Cincinnati County Club.”

Brown’s stomach twirled with a touch of nervousness and anticipation as the phone rang and he waited to be connected to Ben Kern, a noted professional who would be named the club’s Head Professional in 1976.

“The course wasn’t officially open at that time and I didn’t even know if Ben would know who I was, but I wanted to give it a try”, Brown says as he sits in the club’s modern day clubhouse that opened in 2008. “I’ll never forget that call, I introduced myself and asked if I could play and he warmly welcomed me. Ben said, “Yes” to junior champions because he wanted to promote the game and help aspiring young players. He knew who the players were.”

Brown played his first round at The National on his own. At every turn and with every shot he could not believe what he was seeing and playing.

“As I drove in along old Pine Valley Drive to the clubhouse I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the first course of its kind in the country and it looked incredible,” says Brown. “I remember being amazed by the quickness of the green speeds. I had never played on anything like that and there were no pitch and run shots to be made at The National. I grew up with a pitch and run game. All of a sudden I was being faced with having to make a lob or a flop shot when I missed a green and it was very challenging.”

The sight and size of the Fazios’ fairway and green side bunkers also made Brown take a second look and sometimes a third before firing away.

“I asked Ben, “Is this the way modern golf is going? And he said, “Yes,” recalls Brown, who returned to play the course two more times that summer with his father and was personally welcomed back each time by Ben.

Today, at The National Golf Club of Canada, there was an official name change along the way, Brown is Head Professional. He started working at the Club as an assistant in 1999 and took the top job in 2005, after winning the 2004 PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.

The club has only had four head professionals over its 40-year history – Al Balding from 1974-1975, Ben Kern from 1976 to 1995, Norm Hitzroth from 1996 to 2004 and Brown.

Its three original founding members; Gil Blechman, Harvey Kalef and Irv Hennick each passed away within seven years of each other between 2000 and 2007. As legend goes the dream of The National was conceived on a hot, lazy afternoon in the summer of 1972 at Maple Downs G&CC where the trio were members. They were tired of the slow play and kids splashing around in the pool during their back swings. It was time for a change when Kalef said, “Enough of this crap. What we ought to do is buy ourselves a super golf club, the best anywhere. We’ll make it exclusive, for men only.”

That was a Friday afternoon and Blechman knew of a course that was for sale. On the Monday, Kalef went to his lawyer and without having seen Pine Valley Golf Club put in an offer to purchase from the estate of the late Jack Bailey that was accepted.

They hired the Fazios’ to design, “the best golf course in the world and money’s no object,” Blechman said. It’s a good thing it wasn’t, because Tom Fazio told Blechman he needed more land to make his dream reality and they proceeded to buy three adjoining farms totalling 135 acres. Construction of the Fazio masterpiece started on May 15, 1973, the land was cleared by June 1^st and the course was finished in three months with an official opening in 1975. The Fazio golf course design team continue to make annual visits to the club to review the course and make suggestions for tweaking the layout.

When it first opened the course, which was an instant success and on its way to quickly becoming the No. 1 golf course in Canada, the layout had three sets of tees. Today it has four sets of tees with two hybrid options for a total of six playing options measuring from 6002 to 7,235 yards, par-71. It’s very first scorecard had Al Balding as Head Professional and Ken Venturi as Associate Director with the tees measuring 5,855 yards, 6,306 yards and 6,989 yards, par-71.

“The course continues to evolve without losing its essence of being tough but fair and that’s what makes it timeless,” Brown says. “It was tough 40 years ago and it has that exact same toughness today although there have been changes and that is truly remarkable.”

Once a year players gather for the Ben Kern Pro-Am. It’s the only tournament at the club played from the back Gold tees. It’s one of the exceptional golf experiences in Canada that only the lucky few have the opportunity to play.

The favourite part of Brown’s job is seeing the expressions of first time guests as they play the course. “I’ll greet them when they arrive and I’ll go out and see them on the seventh or eighth hole and you can see it in their eyes. It gets everybody and the better the player the more they have recognized what they have played.”

He too knows the players and the champions. The tradition continues although cell phones have replaced rotary phones. Austin James won the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship and Matt LeMay won the 2014 Ontario Junior Boys Championship. You just never know where they might be 40 years from now.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Raphael Jacquelin of France birdied his last two holes for a 2-under 70 to break clear of a tightly packed leaderboard and take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Four players – Irish duo Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry along with Frenchman Alexander Levy and England’s Oliver Wilson – were in a tie for second, with three others another shot back. At one stage late in the day, nine players were tied for the lead before Harrington jumped in front and Jacquelin then leapfrogged him with his strong finish for a 9-under total of 135.

The tournament is played on three courses, with 11 of the players in the top 12 having played Kingsbarns on Friday. Lowry was the only exception, shooting a 70 at St. Andrews.

“It’s always nice to finish birdie-birdie, but it was difficult out there,” Jacquelin said. “I am in a nice position and right where I want to be. I played really well yesterday shooting a 65 at Carnoustie and putting really great, but then today here at Kingsbarns I just didn’t get the pace of the greens.”

Top-ranked Rory McIlroy shot a 67 on Kingsbarns to sit five shots back. McIlroy started on the back nine and was 1 over through six holes before an eagle on No. 16 and a birdie on the next got him going. He added four more birdies and a bogey on his last nine holes.

“The eagle on 16, or my seventh hole, kick-started something for me and I just went from there and started seeing a few more putts roll in,” he said. “That gave me a little bit more confidence, and looking at the leaderboard I am only five shots behind with two rounds to play.”

Harrington is looking to end a six-year title drought, having failed to win a tournament on either of the main tours since capturing a third major at the 2008 PGA Championship.

The 43-year old has slipped to 324th in the world rankings, and said his main goal now is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

“That’s where I am focused so I’ve got two years to achieve that goal, and it makes no difference where I am in the world now,” Harrington said. “So I am starting at `ground zero’ and working my way up to becoming an Olympic athlete. That would be very special.”

Scottish duo Richie Ramsay (68) and Chris Doak (67) were in a share for sixth place with American Ryan Palmer (68).

Stephen Gallacher carded a 70 to move to a share of ninth place at 6 under to be the best of the four European Ryder Cup winners competing this week.

BEIJING – Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied the final hole Friday for a 5-under 68 and a two-stroke lead over fellow Texan Brittany Lang after the second round of the Reignwood LPGA Classic.

“It was a day that I just had to stay patient,” Lewis said. “Even coming in, I could have made a few more birdies. Didn’t quite hit the shots around the greens that I needed to.”

Lewis had a 12-under 134 at Reignwood Pine Valley.

She holed some timely putts.

“Putts that kept the round going,” Lewis said. “That’s the thing. I’ve made them at the right time. I’ve had good speed all week.”

Lewis leads the tour with three victories and earnings of $2,214,143. Last year, she finished a stroke behind Shanshan Feng after the Chinese player eagled the par-5 18th.

Lang had a 66 to match the best round off the week – and set up a Saturday pairing with Lewis.

“We’re really good friends though and I have a lot of respect for her on the golf course.” Lang said about Lewis. “Yeah, definitely going to be out of my element, a little intimidated. She’s a great player. But at the same time, I’m trying to get better, too. So playing with her, watching her, and trying to play well and do my thing is going to make me better. If I could play with her on more weekends, then I’ll be doing pretty good. Maybe I can learn something from watching her.”

Germany’s Caroline Masson, South Korea’s Mirim Lee, Spain’s Belen Mozo and Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall were tied for third at 8 under. Masson and Lee shot 68, Mozo had a 69, and Hedwall a 71.

Fourth-ranked Suzann Pettersen followed her opening 74 with a 66 to reach 6 under.

“I played some good golf yesterday. I had six birdies or something and shot 1 over, which is kind of a disaster,” Pettersen said. “Then I made a mess out of two of the par 5s.

“I don’t know if I was a little bit rusty and not sharp enough from not having played for quite a few weeks and it kind of got to me a little bit on certain holes. … Happy to bounce back with 7 under and put myself somewhere back in the tournament.”

Feng was tied for 39th at even par after a 71.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Rory McIlroy found himself nine shots off the lead after a 1-over-par 73 in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday.

Four days after celebrating a third straight European Ryder Cup victory, McIlroy could manage just one birdie against two bogeys at Carnoustie, one of the three courses.

“A 73 isn’t disastrous,” McIlroy said.

Oliver Wilson of England, ranked 791 places below the top-ranked McIlroy, equaled the Carnoustie course record with an 8-under 64. It’s the second straight year he’s shot an opening 64 to lead the Dunhill Links. Last year, he finished tied for 59th.

Wilson was in the Ryder Cup in 2008, the last time Europe lost to the U.S, but since 2011 has been competing on the secondary Challenge Tour. He received an invite for this week and sank nine birdie putts, finishing birdie-birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie.

“I shot a 63 a fortnight ago in the Kazakhstan Open, which is our major on the Challenge Tour, so to shoot a 64 here at Carnoustie is very pleasing,” Wilson said.

“I only dropped one shot, which was disappointing at 17, but then to birdie the last makes up for that. I’m so delighted to get Carnoustie and the tougher of the three courses out of the way.”

Raphael Jacquelin of France, also at Carnoustie, was one shot behind in second after a 65 which included an eagle on the par-5 14th, his fifth hole.

The Irish pair of Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry shared third with 66s. Harrington, at Carnoustie where he captured the 2007 British Open, bogeyed his closing two holes.

The 55th-ranked Lowry, desperate to earn a maiden Masters invitation by being inside the top-50 at year’s end, birdied six of his opening 10 holes at Kingsbarns course.

McIlroy sent his opening tee shot at Carnoustie way left after hitting the ground about four inches (10 centimeters) behind the ball, but then managed to save par on the course where he won the low amateur medal in the 2007 Open won by Harrington.

“I just felt a little flat coming here after the crowds and everything that we were playing in front of last week,” he said.

“I’ve got Kingsbarns tomorrow, so I will try and post a better number and try and hang in there, and then go to St. Andrews over the weekend, a golf course I’ve played well on before.”

Of the three other Ryder Cup winners in the field, Stephen Gallacher fared best with two eagles in a 68, followed by Victor Dubuisson (71), and Martin Kaymer (74). Their captain, Paul McGinley, was 2 over after four holes before ending with a par 72.

BEIJING – Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied five holes on the back nine to shoot a 7-under 66 in the first round of the Reignwood LPGA Classic on Thursday.

The American had seven birdies in her bogey-free round and was one stroke ahead of Caroline Hedwall of Sweden.

Lewis is back in Beijing to try to win the tournament she narrowly lost a year before. She led for most of the final round by one stroke before Chinese golfer Shanshan Feng eagled the par-5 18th hole to win. Lewis finished second.

South Korean players Sun Young Yoo and Jenny Shin were tied for third place at 68 after Thursday’s first round.

Former No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan found some of her old form to shoot a 4-under 69. The five-time major winner has only had two top-10 finishes this year, causing her ranking to slip to No. 66.

Tseng was in a group of six golfers that also included four-time major winner Inbee Park of South Korea.

Feng, the defending champion, had three bogeys on the front nine to finish in a share of 52nd place at 2-over 75.