Maybin Ace Wins Omega Watch

Gareth Maybin’s perfect five iron from 199 yards on the par three fourth hole of the Hong Kong Golf Club saw the Northern Irishman win an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Annual Calendar watch during the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Maybin, whose ace was the fourth of his career, is tied for 17th in Hong Kong on one under par going into the weekend.

“I had 199, it was playing a bit downwind and it was a perfect number for my five 5 iron. Only about ten yards short, rolled up and went in. I saw it all the way and went a bit crazy on the tee but why not?

“Looking forward to getting the watch – I really wanted an Omega about two years ago and after I did well in Korea and went and bought one, looks like I have two now!”

R2 leaderboard

McIlroy Shares Hong Kong Lead

Rory McIlroy shares the lead with Alvaro Quiros and David Horsey at the Hong Kong Open after firing a superb opening six-under-par 64.

McIlroy's bogey-free round in windy conditions was later matched by Quiros and Horsey while Miguel Angel Jimenez was one behind after a 65.

McIlroy is third in the order of merit, £970,000 behind leader Luke Donald, who is not playing in Hong Kong.

"It was very good, a solid round. I didn't make a mistake," said McIlroy.

Gareth Maybin, badly needing a good finish to hold on to his tour card, responded by firing an impressive 66.

However, Dunhill Links winner Michael Hoey shot a disappointing opening 78.

Peter Lawrie shot a 69 with Padraig Harrington, needing a high finish to force himself into next week's Dubai World Championship field, having to be content with a 70.

Damien McGrane, like Maybin under a degree of pressure to hold on to his card, was near the bottom of the field after carding a 77.

Starting on the 10th, McIlroy picked up birdies at the 14th and 16th to reach the turn in 33 before a sand wedge to inside three feet at the first brought another.

The 22-year-old moved to four under at the next and although his drive from the fifth tee found the bunker, a superb recovery allowed him to knock in a short putt for his fifth birdie of the day before adding his sixth at the next.

"Six birdies and no bogeys is always a nice way to start the tournament," added McIlroy, who has twice finished runner-up at the Hong Kong event.

"I just gave myself a lot of chances - I think I hit 17 greens and a lot of fairways - and I was able to take a few, which was nice."

A win for McIlroy would help to cut Donald's lead at the top of the order of merit heading into the Dubai World Championship.

Maybin started this week's event in 120th place in the order of merit, with only the top 118 after Sunday's tournament conclusion set to hold on to tour cards for next season.

However, Maybin, after starting at the 10th, picked up birdies on the 11th, 12th, 15th and 16th and parred his remaining 12 holes to card a 66.

McIlroy Confirms 2012 Irish Open

ory McIlroy has confirmed his participation in the 2012 Irish Open from June 28 – July 1.

The US Open Champion revealed his intention to play in his national open at the UBS Hong Kong Open on Wednesday.

“There has been a lot of speculation on whether or not I will play the Irish Open next year, so I am happy to announce that I will definitely play the tournament next season."

“For me, the Irish Open has always been, and will continue to be, one of the most important events on the global golf calendar. It’s our national open and it’s obviously a title that I would love to win at some stage in my career.

"With Irish golf on such a high in recent years, it is important that we put on a good show not only for the home fans, but also for the global golf audience who will be watching the event on TV next summer.

“A lot has been made of me joining the PGA Tour again next year, but in reality, it's not a drastic change to the schedule I have played in recent seasons. It just means that I will be adding a few more events to my schedule in America in 2012.

“Taking my PGA Tour card again does not mean that I'm going to neglect my European Tour status. I'll continue to play a similar schedule of events in Europe and will obviously fulfil my commitment to the European Tour.”

Looking ahead to this week at the UBS Hong Kong Open, the World Number Two is hoping to finally lift the trophy on Sunday night having finished second twice at the Hong Kong Golf Club in the past three years.

Victory, or possibly a second place finish, at Fanling will mean that McIlory will retain an outside chance of winning The European Tour’s Race to Dubai by also lifting the season-ending Dubai World Championship presented by DP World next week.

The 22 year old would be relying on current Race to Dubai and World Number One Luke Donald finishing well down the 60-man field in Dubai in order to top The Race to Dubai, but he is confident that he can keep his side of the bargain.

“Of course winning the next two events is achievable,” said McIlroy, “but I probably need to win here in Hong Kong first to even think about it. So all I can concentrate on is trying to play the best I can here, and if I get myself into a position to win and end up winning, it gives me the chance of going to Dubai next week and trying to win The Race to Dubai.

“But even still, I'll have to win there and Luke will have to finish quite a way below me. It doesn't look like he's done that at all this year, so I don't expect him to do it to be honest, but you never know in this game. All I can do is try and win this week and see what happens after that.”

Connacht Golf Industry Conference

Connacht Golf Industry Conference 2012

Sunday 29th January

"Highlighting the Unique Golfing Experience in the West of Ireland."

Topics

What topics might be discussed at the Conference?

Cost cutting & revenue generation.

Golf Club Marketing & Social Media.

Retention of Members.

Junior Golf Developement.

Clubs role in the local community.

Bulk purchasing & machine sharing.

Bar & Catering.

Contact

Conference Chairman: Paul O'Neill, Marketing Manager, Westport Golf Club, E-mail: pauloneill@live.ie; Mobile: 0876139112; Phone: 098/28600; Web: www.khh.ie

Itinerary

Trade only

9.30am - 9.45am: Registration.

10.am - 11.am: Tourism & Marketing

11.15am - 12.15pm: Golf Sales & Service

GOLF SHOW (Open to the Public)

12.noon - 5.pm: 

Golf Club Green Fee Offers, Membership Rates & Trade Demonstrations

Objective

"The delegates at the conference will attempt to build on the hard work that has being maintained over many years by their fellow members, to agree on measures that will continue to develop the game during these difficult economic times and to ensure that the industry is on a solid footing for generations of golfers to come." 

Venue

Knockranny House Hotel,

Westport, 

Co. Mayo.

Level Irish Unable to Halt US Charge

Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland combined for six birdies as the United States won the World Cup by two shots.

The Americans eroded the overnight two-stroke lead held by Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in China, with birdies on the first two holes.

Four more birdies lifted them to 24 under as the Irish faded with a 72 that included four bogeys to stay 21 under.

England's Ian Poulter and Justin Rose carded a nine-under-par 63 to finish second alongside Germany on 22 under.

Poulter and Rose sank four birdies on the front nine and finished with two birdies and an eagle in their last four holes as they recorded the lowest score of the final round.

But although they caught and passed McIlroy and McDowell, who had held an eight-shot advantage over the Englishmen going into the final round, they were unable to match the Americans.

Kuchar and Woodland played solid, rather than spectacular golf in the alternate shot foursomes format as they finished with a five-under-par 67.

Their only blip was a bogey on the par-three 11th but that dropped shot was clawed back on the 12th with a sixth birdie of the round coming on the 13th.

In contrast, McIlroy and McDowell, who led by three on the back nine two years but were beaten to the title ago by Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, again struggled on the final day.

They mixed two bogies with two birdies on the front nine to fall two behind the Americans.

A birdie on the 10th brought them within one shot of the lead but a bogey on 12 checked their progress and another shot went on the par-three 15th after McDowell's tee shot plugged under the lip of a greenside bunker.

McIlroy could only blast the ball a few feet out of the sand but when his playing partner missed the 25-foot par putt, their challenge was effectively ended.

They finished joint fourth with Australia, Netherlands and Scottish pair Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher who closed with eight birdies in a six-under-par 66.

German duo Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka did not drop a shot over the last two rounds and played the final 18 holes in a three-under 69, sinking a lengthy par putt at the last to ensure they finished joint second.