Liqui Moly to title sponsor Gran Premio de Teruel, extends agreement to supply Moto2™ and Moto3™ lubricants
Aug 19. 2020
The exclusive lubricant supplier to the Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes extends that agreement until 2023 – and will headline the second event at MotorLand Aragon in 2020
Dorna Sports is pleased to announce contract extensions with Liqui Moly that will see the German lubricant giant remain the exclusive lubricant supplier to the Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes until 2023, as well as take top billing at the 2020 Gran Premio de Teruel as title sponsor. The Grand Prix, set to take place at MotorLand Aragon from the 23rd to the 25th of October, will be named the Gran Premio Liqui Moly de Teruel.
In addition, the new agreements see the Liqui Moly name remain front and centre at the majority of MotoGP™ events throughout the season, with their now-iconic trackside advertising also confirmed as continuing until 2023.
Founded in Ulm in 1957, Liqui Moly has grown to become a global giant in lubricants and is a perfect partner for the attention to detail and precision of MotoGP™. With 4,000 products available worldwide that have been researched, developed and manufactured in Germany, that sterling reputation will now drive the Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes forward for another three years as the riders race past the Liqui Moly name at each venue of the season.
Peter Baumann, Marketing Director, Liqui Moly: “We´re a proud partner of Dorna at MotoGP events since the 2015 season and happy to extend this cooperation till 2023. Being the exclusive lubricant supplier for Moto2 and Moto3 is a perfect proof of the quality of our products.”
Pau Serracanta, Managing Director at Dorna Sports: “We’re delighted to see Liqui Moly continue as the exclusive lubricant supplier to the Moto2 and Moto3 classes for another three years, as they are such an important part of the incredible success of both Championships. The title sponsorship agreement only serves to strengthen our partnership, and we are very much looking forward to Liqui Moly playing such a vital role in the Gran Premio de Teruel – as well as seeing the name remain trackside for years to come.”
Thomas earns top spot in Wyndham Rewards Top 10, Im finishes fifth
Aug 18. 2020Sungjae Im (Photo credit to Getty Images)Thomas’ Wyndham Rewards win showcases consistent season-long performance entering FedExCup Playoffs
The 2019-20 PGA TOUR Regular Season concluded last weekend at the Wyndham Championship with Justin Thomas claiming the No. 1 position in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 and Korea’s Sungjae Im emerging as the highest ranked Asian in fifth position.
“Being No. 1 in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 is a great honor and really reinforces my consistent play heading into the FedExCup Playoffs,” said Thomas, who earned a US$2 million bonus. “I can’t thank Wyndham enough for their support of this award. It comes full circle as they helped me get my career started with a sponsor exemption to the 2009 Wyndham Championship, where I made my PGA TOUR debut as a 16-year-old amateur.”
Im, last season’s Rookie of the Year, was delighted to secure fifth spot in the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 after finishing tied ninth on Sunday with a closing 65. It was his seventh top-10 of the season.
“I haven’t finished very well since the Charles Schwab Challenge, about seven weeks now, so it feels great to have my swing back. My ball striking was great and it helped me post four great scores. I’ve had a win and multiple top-10s this season, which helped me finish No. 5 in the Wyndham Rewards. It was very unexpected, so I’m very happy to finish this well. I would like to take this momentum in the FedExCup Playoffs and finish as high as I can in the standings,” said the 22-year-old Im.
Finishing among the top 10 in the Wyndham Rewards standings entering the FedExCup Playoffs is an important goal for players looking to position themselves for a run at the FedExCup, a title Thomas claimed in 2017.
“It’s incredible to see how far Justin has come from his PGA TOUR debut at the Wyndham all those years ago,” said Eliot Hamlisch, EVP of Loyalty and Wyndham Rewards program leader. “This has been a season unlike any other. On behalf of all of us at Wyndham Rewards, congratulations to Justin and all the players making up this year’s Wyndham Top 10—you’ve earned this.”
Launched in 2019, the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 places a greater emphasis on performance throughout the PGA TOUR Regular Season with the bonus being split among the top 10 Regular Season finishers in the FedExCup standings. Last year, Brooks Koepka earned the top spot in the inaugural Wyndham Rewards Top 10.
Thomas, the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 Regular Season Champion, earned three victories, the most of any player this season, and six additional top-10s during the 2019-20 PGA TOUR Regular Season. Thomas won in his second start of the season at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in October, won a playoff at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January and added his second career World Golf Championships title at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational three weeks ago.
Im won The Honda Classic in March for his first PGA TOUR victory and will now turn his attention to THE NORTHERN TRUST at TPC Boston starting Thursday, the first leg of three events in the FedExCup Playoffs which also include the BMW Championship and TOUR Championship.
Crucial hole-in-one lands Prom record 4th Pattaya Open title
Aug 17. 2020
By THE NATIONA brilliant hole-in-one on the 17th hole propelled Prom Meesawat to a record fourth victory in the Singha Pattaya Open at the Burapha Golf Spa and Resort in Chonburi province on Sunday.
Prom and his wife Supichaya
After reigning supreme at this course in 2006, 2011 and 2012, Prom, chased by Gunn Charoenkul and young gun Tanapat Pichaikul by two strokes, hit a 184-yard ace to stride to 19 under before signing off with a final 63 for a five-shot win with a 20-under-par 260.
“I hit a hole-in-one and won the tournament. It’s very special to me,” said the 36-year-old Prom, who has won a total of seven titles on the All Thailand Golf Tour. Prom also hit a hole-in-one on the 17th hole at the Burapha Golf Course and Spa Resort when he won in 2012, which was competed on a different part of the layout.
“I tried to create opportunities but at the beginning I missed several birdie putts. But then I made three straight birdies from holes sixth to eighth which gave me momentum. The young players really gave it a fight out there,” added Prom, who won the top prize money of Bt450,000. He dedicated this win to his wife Supichaya as a birthday gift.
Prom, in fact, has been at the top of his game, posting several top-five finishes in his recent tournaments. He lost to Gunn in a Thai PGA event in Hua Hin last month.
“I came so close to winning several times. I have been training hard and it is paying off,” said Prom, winner of two Asian Tour titles in the 2006 SK Telecom Open and 2014 Yeander Tournament Players Championship.
Gunn Charoenkul
Gunn, 28, posted another top-three finish in his last five events. He won back-to-back titles and finished third on the Thai PGA Tour before ending at joint second alongside Tanapat on a 15-under-par 265.
“If I had made more birdies, I would have given myself more opportunities this week. I have been fixing my game on my own recently, trying to keep improving more and more,” said Gunn, who also has to look after his six-month-old daughter.
Tanapat Pichaikul
Tanapat had to settle for second again after he landed at the same position in the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation in Lopburi last month. He shot an ending eagle for a finishing 64 and earned Bt225,000 for finishing in second place.
“I’m really happy with my score this week. I gave my all. Prom deserves a thumps-up for finishimg 20 under on this tough course. He is such a proficient player,” said Tanapat.
Dovizioso victorious amidst huge drama at the Red Bull Ring
Aug 17. 2020
A Red Flag for a dramatic incident at Turn 3 saw the MotoGP™ race re-started, with the Italian then able to pull clear for Ducati’s 50th premier class win – ahead of Mir and Miller
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) played his cards and his race to perfection in the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, overhauling an early lead for Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) to take over at the front and then pull the pin for Ducati’s 50th premier class win – keeping the marque’s 100% record at the Red Bull Ring intact. Miller looked set to take second until the last two corners, with the Australian then heading ever-so-slightly wide and having his pocket picked by Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir. The Spaniard therefore took second and was on the premier class podium for the first time.
The headlines were dominated, however, by an earlier incident that brought out the Red Flag. On the initial start, Miller got a great launch from P2 and it was the Ducati rider who grabbed the holeshot, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) also getting away well to slot into P2 from pole. Dovizioso was a fast starter from P4, with Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) dropping back. Then Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) chipped away and got himself to the front, before Quartararo then ran off track at Turn 4 to drop to the back of the pack on Lap 6. Espargaro, Dovizioso, Mir, Miller and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) were leaving the rest behind, but the incident for which the race will also likely be remembered then unfolded at the Turn 3 braking zone, bringing out the red flags.
Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) were almost side by side on the straight, and as they got on the anchors into Turn 3, the duo came into contact and both went down. What unfolded next was terrible luck followed by incredible luck. Zarco and Morbidelli’s bikes careered towards Turn 4 and both bikes hit the air-fence, thankfully slowing them down, but the speed of the crash was such that the machines headed into the path of the riders that were coming into and out of Turn 3. Viñales and Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) were the two in the firing line and somehow, the two errant bikes missed the two factory Yamaha riders. Morbidelli’s bike shot through the gap between Viñales and Rossi, missing the nine-time World Champion by a matter of inches, with Zarco’s bike narrowly avoiding Viñales.
The debris and aftermath brought out the Red Flag, with Zarco on his feet immediately and going to check on the stricken Morbidelli. The Italian was up initially but then taken away on a stretcher to be checked over. Ultimately, both headed for the Medical Centre and incredibly, both were declared fit and were not injured. A crash the scale of which will ensure it’s remembered forever, and thankfully everyone walking away unscathed.
As the dust settled, the track was cleared and race restart prepared. This time it would be Pol Espargaro on pole, leading as he had been just before the Red Flag incident happened. As the lights went out, the KTM rider got a very good getaway but Miller came flying up the inside from P3, the Aussie running wide but was able to use the drive down the long straight to hold his advantage. Pol Espargaro was back through at T3 but Miller was trying to pull the pin from the off, and the Australian took the lead at Turn 6 and immediately got the hammer down.
Meanwhile, the opening lap on the restart was a nightmare for Viñales, who slipped to last place, with pitlane reporter Simon Crafar confirming after the race that the number 12 did have some sort of issue on his YZR-M1. And what about Quartararo? Starting from the back of the grid but at least on the pack after his earlier run off in the abandoned race, the Frenchman had started making up places but for the top two in the Championship, this was now all about damaged limitation – P16 and P20 was the situation for Quartararo and Viñales on Lap 1.
By Lap 3, Miller was nearly a second up the road from Pol Espargaro, Dovizioso, the two Suzukis and Oliveira. Mir and Alex Rins were looking very strong after making great starts on their GSX-RRs, and the duo – along with Dovizioso – were swarming Pol Espargaro. Lap 4 saw then Miller’s lead creep up to over a second but on the next lap, Dovizioso set the fastest lap and it appeared a pin was about to be pulled. Just behind the Italian, Espargaro had his hands full with the two Suzukis too, the trio exchanging positions like there was no tomorrow and losing time on Dovizioso. Rins eventually made a move stick though, and the 42 bolted off to chase the Ducati Team machine.
Further back, Quartararo had made it into P13 and Viñales was still out the points, but back at the front, Miller’s lead was down to just 0.4 as Dovizioso and Rins reeled in the Pramac. That left Pol Espargaro, Mir and Oliveira over a second off the podium scrap, and Espargaro looked like he was getting impatient as a potential race win was slowly slipping from his grasp. Then, on Lap 9, catastrophe struck for KTM at their home race. At Turn 4, Espargaro and Oliveira were both down, Oliveira heading up the inside and Espargaro cutting back across, contact ensuing.
Ahead of that, Miller’s advantage was no more. Dovizioso and Rins were right on the tail of the GP20, with Mir clawing back the gap after the two KTMs crashed as well. At Turn 6, Rins was almost down as the front of his machine tucked, but the Spaniard saved it. Then we had a change for the lead. Dovizioso carved past Miller into Turn 1 and then, at Turn 9, Rins followed the Bologna bullet through. It wouldn’t last long though, as the Suzuki rider’s race then prematurely ended at Turn 6. A repeat slip of the front tyre couldn’t be saved this time as Rins swept up the inside of Dovizioso, but then slid out. A four-way battle for the race win became three: Dovizioso vs Miller vs Mir, with Brno winner Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) over two seconds back in fourth but the South African producing another fine Sunday ride.
With seven laps to go in Spielberg, there was nothing between the leading three, and Rossi and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) were chasing Binder, as Championship leaders Quartararo and Viñales remained down in 8th and 13th, although Viñales was the fastest man on track. With five to go, Dovi then really started edging clear of Miller, and with four to go, the Italian had pulled almost a second out. The Australian held firm in second, but Mir was climbing all over the back of the Desmosedici…
Coming onto the last lap, barring a mistake, the race was Dovi’s. But who would take second? Miller was defending as hard as he could to make it a Ducati 1-2 and it looked like he was going to be able to do it. Heading into the penultimate Turn 9 though, Miller’s defensive line took him wide on the exit and Mir swept through to steal that second place, denying the Australian as he took his first MotoGP™ podium on the second step. Dovi took the chequered flag just ahead of them to claim his third Red Bull Ring victory, and Ducati’s 50th MotoGP™ win.
Binder, after qualifying 17th, finishes P4 at KTM’s home race on his first visit to the Red Bull Ring on a MotoGP™ machine, the South African putting in a performance of pure class once again. Fifth went the way of Rossi, who came out after the scare of his life like nothing had happened – true testament to just how superhuman the riders are – and ‘The Doctor’ finished as the lead Yamaha rider. Nakagami picked up a solid P6 just behind as the leading Honda.
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) crossed the line seventh to finish just 0.036 ahead of Championship leader Quartararo, but it was a great damage limitation job done by the 21-year-old who salvages eighth. 1.5 seconds behind Quartararo was Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech3) who secures his best premier class result in P9; a top job by the rookie who will have a significant boost of confidence heading into the Styrian GP next weekend.
Viñales also did well to recover to P10 after his issues in the restarted race, and it’s not what either Viñales or Quartararo would have been looking for from the front row but considering what unfolded, it was the best they could do. Quartararo’s gap has been closed down to 11 points in the title fight though, with Dovizioso now overtaking Viñales in the Championship. The Frenchman and the Spaniard will both be hoping for better fortunes in seven days’ time.
Completing the points were Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), Michele Pirro (Pramac Racing), Bradley Smith (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), Repsol Honda Team’s Alex Marquez and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol).
After a little history is made, the title fight gets another shake and some serious drama in Spielberg, it’s now time to reset and reload to attack the Red Bull Ring once again next weekend in the Styrian GP. Thankfully and most importantly, with everyone ok after that huge crash, and thoughts all with those who were involved in the scary incident.
For the 13th time in her professional career, Stacy Lewis is an LPGA Tour champion. The 12-year LPGA Tour veteran outlasted numerous challengers to win the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at -5, holing a 23-foot birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Emily Kristine Pedersen, Cheyenne Knight and Azahara Munoz.
It was Lewis’ first victory since the 2017 Cambia Portland Classic and the first playoff win of her career, having previously gone 0-3 in extra holes. It was also her first win since giving birth to daughter Chesnee in October 2018. Within minutes of her victory, Lewis was on FaceTime with husband Gerrod Chadwell and Chesnee, who were back home in Texas watching their wife and mom hoist yet another trophy.
“I have been trying to get a trophy from the day she was born. That’s been my goal,” said Lewis with a massive smile on her face. “I just called them, got to FaceTime with them. My husband said she was hitting the TV screen with her plastic golf clubs when I made that putt. So it’s just pretty cool. I can’t wait to get home with them in a week or so and celebrate. But he reminded me that with our Diamond Resorts tournament, we get to take her to Disney World now.”
Lewis got off to a hot start with birdies at holes 2 and 3, but her round nearly came unraveled with a double bogey at No. 11. After getting back on track, Lewis had two opportunities to seal the win in regulation, missing birdie putts at 16 and 17 that would have gotten her to -6. Instead, she settled for pars and reached the playoff with a two-putt par from 30 feet at No. 18.
“I was just very much in control and then hit a bad shot on 11 and it leads to double, and then really hit some good shots after that,” said Lewis. “Made the birdie on 14. 15 was a mess. 16, I should have gotten up and down. 17, I probably should have made that putt. It was frustrating that I had my chances, but at the same time with all the stuff that went on there in that back nine, I still had a chance to win the golf tournament. So I stayed very positive for me throughout the day, and just proud of the way I hung in there.”
Knight, who captured her first LPGA Tour victory at the 2019 Volunteers of America Classic, birdied the 16th hole to reach the playoff. She had a 10-foot birdie putt to extend the playoff but sent her attempt past the hole to give Lewis the victory.
“I’m really happy the way I hung in there today. The conditions were really tough,” said Knight. “It’s all a learning experience. I kind of struggled starting the restart, so I feel really good about my game.”
Munoz began the fourth round with a one-stroke lead over Lewis but played her first nine in 4-over 40 to make the turn four strokes off the lead. With the field in front of her faltering, her back nine was a display of beautiful short-game prowess that kept her firmly in the competition. After blasting out from a green-side bunker to just inches from the hole at No. 16, she tapped in for birdie to reach -5 and get back into contention for her first win since 2012.
“It was a tough day and I didn’t have a good start,” said Munoz. “I got pretty unlucky on No. 6. I got a plugged lie in the bunker, so I had to take an unplayable. But I fought really hard. I made some really nice putts coming in and all you can do.”
Pedersen started the day five strokes off the lead but jumped into the playoff with a solid 3-under round on Sunday that featured four birdies and one bogey. The Danish player lost her LPGA Tour card heading in the 2020 season and came up just short regaining Membership.
“I didn’t know, actually, until 17, I didn’t know I was up there kind of. So that made it kind of interesting,” said Pedersen. “I missed a few 3-, 4-foot putts up there, so that was a bit of a shame. But it happens, and I haven’t played good in a while, so I’m happy to play some decent golf.”
Pedersen’s countrywoman Nanna Koerstz Madsen shot the tournament’s low round with a 6-under 65 on Sunday. She finished tied for fifth at -4 with Danielle Kang, who was seeking her third consecutive LPGA Tour victory. Jennifer Song has the solo lead at -8 through eight holes but played her last nine holes at +5 to tie for seventh at -3.
The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is the first of two consecutive events in Scotland. Next week, the Tour heads to Royal Troon for the season’s first major, the AIG Women’s Open.
STACY LEWIS LEARNING AS AN #LPGAMOM
As the saying goes, patience is a virtue. Since becoming a mom in October 2018, patience is something that Stacy Lewis is truly coming to appreciate.
“I think having a kid has brought me some more patience, I really do,” said Lewis. “You can’t get worked up. When she starts crying, if I get worked up, it’s going to make it worse. So if anything, Chesnee has taught me a lot of patience.”
Patience was extra critical in Sunday’s final round of the Aberdeen Standard Investment Ladies Scottish Open. All three players in the final group struggled at times on Sunday and the urge to get worked up crept into Lewis’ mind. But with Chesnee’s favorite song, Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” running through her head, Lewis kept her temper in check and channeled that patience toward her 13th career LPGA Tour victory.
“On this golf course, you’re going to hit good shots and they are just not going to end up where you want them to. That’s links golf. That’s this type of golf,” said Lewis. “The patience was tested today. There were moments there on the back nine where I wanted to go at pins but knew I couldn’t. So I really just tried to wait for my opportunity and just kept hanging in there.”
EMILY KRISTINE PEDERSEN’S INTERESTING FINAL DAY AT THE #ASILSO
Emily Kristine Pedersen didn’t realize how close she was to the top of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open leaderboard until No. 17 on Sunday, as she played in the third-to-last grouping. As she signed for a final-round 69, the Dane went to the putting green to wait on a possible playoff. After the final players came through the last hole, Pedersen went back to No. 18 for the first playoff hole of the evening with Cheyenne Knight, Azahara Munoz and Stacy Lewis, looking for her first LPGA Tour victory.
After a long putt from the right edge of the green missed for birdie, Pedersen watched as Lewis holed a 23-foot putt to win the tournament. Though disappointed in the result, Pedersen said there’s plenty of positives to take away from the week. “I missed a few 3-, 4-foot putts up there, so that was a bit of a shame. But it happens, and I haven’t played good in a while, so I’m happy to play some decent golf,” said the 24-year-old.
Today was the first time that Pedersen had her boyfriend, Olly Brett, in the same grouping. Brett caddies for Danielle Kang and was on the bag for the Rolex Rankings No. 2’s back-to-back wins in Ohio. Pedersen said it was a different kind of experience for the couple.
“It was a little weird. Because normally when he’s there and we play, we chat a lot, and I don’t think we said anything to each other today. It was a bit weird,” said Pedersen. “They make a good team and I respect the work. At the end of the day, this is my job and it’s his job and we are both professionals. We just to learn to deal with it. I think the first time is always a little odd.”
CME GROUP CARES CHALLENGE – SCORE 1 FOR ST. JUDE
The CME Group Cares Challenge is a season-long charitable giving program that turns aces into donations. CME Group donated $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA Tour in 2019, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is leading the way in how the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
There were no holes-in-one at the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. The 2020 season has seen five aces, for a total of $100,000 donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The 2019 LPGA Tour season saw 32 aces from 31 different players, for a total of $620,000. This more than covers the average cost of $425,000 needed to treat a pediatric cancer patient.
PLAYER NOTES
Rolex Rankings No. 96 Stacy Lewis (71-66)
She hit 11 of 13 fairways and 13 of 18 greens, with 31 putts
This is Lewis’ 12th season on the LPGA Tour; she has 12 career victories, including major wins at the 2011 ANA Inspiration and the 2013 AIG Women’s Open
This is Lewis’ sixth event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for ninth at the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana
This is Lewis’ second appearance in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open since it became an LPGA Tour event in 2017; she tied for 33rd in 2017
Ranks eighth on the LPGA’s Career Money List with nearly $13 million in career earnings
Represented the USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, where she tied for fourth
Her last victory came at the 2017 Cambia Portland Classic, where she donated her entire $195,000 winner’s check to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, matched by her sponsor KPMG
Has held the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings for 25 weeks in her career
A four-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) with a 7-12-2 overall record; served as a vice captain in 2019 after being forced to withdraw with a rib cage injury
A two-time member of Team USA at the UL International Crown (2014, 2016) with a 3-3-1 overall record
A 2008 graduate from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Finance and Accounting
Munoz leads Lewis by one going to the final round at the Scottish Ladies Open
Aug 16. 2020Azahara Munoz (Credit to LPGA)
With a 20-foot birdie putt at No. 18, Spain’s Azahara Munoz closed out a round of 2-under 69 on Saturday and takes a one-stroke lead at -7 into Sunday’s final round of the Aberdeen Standard Investment Ladies Scottish Open.
LEADERBOARD
Player
To Par
Score
1
Azahara Munoz
-7
68-69-69
2
Stacy Lewis
-6
71-66-70
3
Jennifer Song
-5
68-70-70
Munoz, one of two players with three sub-par rounds at The Renaissance Club, found all 13 fairways on Saturday and sits 18 holes away from her second career LPGA Tour victory.
“It’s been another solid day. Today I think I literally hit every fairway, lots of greens,” said Munoz, whose only career win came at the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship. “Maybe I couldn’t make a few more putts today but still made some nice ones, some nice par saves. The pins were so tricky, a couple holes into the wind were playing really long and overall, I kept managing myself well like the last couple days.”
Two-time major champion Stacy Lewis had prime birdie chances on 17 and 18 to reach 7 under. Her putt at No. 17 stopped just a roll short of falling in, seemingly hovering on the edge of the hole before Lewis finally tapped in for par. On the closing hole, Lewis placed her approach within 6 feet of the hole but sent the birdie putt past to finish with a third-round 70. Lewis heads to the final round at -6, one stroke behind Munoz in her attempt to earn her first victory since the 2017 Cambia Portland Classic.
“I think big picture, you take under par on this golf course any day. Definitely left some putts out there on the back nine that I’d like to – I hit them where I wanted to, so I don’t know what I would do different but I just would have liked to made a couple more there coming in,” said Lewis, who could also become the first mother to win an LPGA Tour event since Cristie Kerr won the 2017 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. “But all in all, I stuck to my game plan, made some good up-and-downs when I needed to, and still a pretty solid day.”
Jennifer Song shot a 1-under 71 to join Munoz with three rounds under par. Song sit in solo third at -4, looking for the first victory of her 10-year LPGA Tour career.
Former Rolex Rankings No. 1 Lydia Ko shot Saturday’s round of the day, carding a bogey-free 4-under 67 and moving into a tie for fourth with Cheyenne Knight. Ko is looking for redemption after losing a five-stroke lead with six holes to play at last week’s Marathon LPGA Classic.
Danielle Kang shot a 2-under 69 on Saturday and heads to Sunday’s final round five strokes off the pace at -2. Kang won the LPGA Tour’s last two events in Ohio and is attempting to become the first player since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 to win three consecutive events. She came back from four strokes behind after 54 holes to win the Marathon LPGA Classic by one stroke over Ko.
The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is the first of two consecutive events in Scotland. Next week, the Tour heads to Royal Troon for the season’s first major, the AIG Women’s Open.
WITH A WIN
Stacy Lewis would earn her 13th career LPGA Tour victory and first since the 2017 Cambia Portland Classic
With the $211,680 winner’s check, Lewis would move to $13,175,384 in career earnings and become the eighth player in LPGA Tour history to break the $13 million threshold
Azahara Munoz would earn her second career LPGA Tour victory and first since the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship
Munoz would become the third multiple LPGA Tour winner from Spain, joining Carlota Ciganda (two victories) and Beatriz Recari (three victories)
Jennifer Song would become the second Rolex First-Time Winner of the 2020 LPGA Tour season, joining Madelene Sagstrom (Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio)
MUNOZ’S DRIVER IS KEY TO HER LEAD IN SCOTLAND
Drive it great; wedge it great; putt it great. That was the advice Byron Nelson gave to a young Tom Watson back in the day – a relatively simple summation of what it takes to win at the highest level but a lesson worth remembering. You can’t get greedy with anything longer than a wedge approach; you have to make the putts you’re supposed to make (along with a couple of pleasant surprises) and, perhaps most importantly, you have to start each hole with a tee shot that sets you up for success.
Some in the modern game have forgotten that first part. The bomb-and-gouge crowd believe you can hit it anywhere as long it’s far enough to muscle the next one onto the green.
That might work some places. The links courses of Scotland are not among them.
Azahara Muñoz, the third-round leader of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, knows this better than most. While it is easy to point to the putts Muñoz has made in her 7-under par effort so far at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, the pinpoint-accurate driver has been the most important club in the bag.
“I think the main key in these type of courses is to not get in trouble and I haven’t at all,” Muñoz said after a 2-under 69 on Saturday put her one shot clear of Stacy Lewis and two ahead of Jennifer Song going into the final round of the event. “The worst I’ve been in is the first cut of rough, which is not even that bad. Everybody always says putting is the main (thing), but you have to start by being on the fairway first. Everything goes after that.
The Renaissance Club has put up a fight this week, with consistency and patience the name of the game. For Jennifer Song, it only took a third-round 70 to keep her in contention heading into the last day of the ASI Ladies Scottish Open. Song said she likes rising to the challenge of links golf and is lying in wait to take advantage of chasing the lead in tomorrow’s final grouping with StacyLewis and Azahara Munoz.
“I’m really happy to be where I am. I like chasing from the back. I’m going to go out there and play some great golf tomorrow,” said Song, who sits at -5, just two strokes back of leader Munoz. “I’m a competitor, and I feel like I play my game better chasing from behind. Just give them the pressure and I’ll just play my own game.”
Song had to clear her head on the back nine after a rocky start to her round with two bogeys in her first eight holes. But she felt she found the same game she’s had going the last two days as she closed with three birdies total on the day. “I think patience is a big key in the final round, knowing when to be aggressive and knowing when to be conservative is the right play out here,” said Song. “I’ve been doing the right thing the last three rounds, so I think as long as I do the same thing and just keep being myself and be confident out there, I think I’m going to play some great golf.”
CHEYENNE KNIGHT FINDING HER GROOVE AMONG THE LINKS
Cheyenne Knight first played golf in Scotland on a trip with her father when she was 13, visiting historic courses like St Andrews, Turnberry, Kingsbarns and Western Gailes. Though out of her comfort zone, she continues to remember the experience fondly at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, where she only trails the lead by three at -4.
“I haven’t played a lot of links golf, but I do love the challenge and love how creative you have to be, and when it’s tough – I like it when it plays hard but you just have to embrace it,” said Knight, who recorded four birdies and finished with a third-round 69. “When I’ve been out of position, I just want to give myself a putt at par and just take bogey if I have to, because I feel like on this golf course, you’re going to make bogeys but you also get some birdie opportunities.”
Knight said she glanced at the leaderboard throughout her round to see where she stood among the field, especially coming down the stretch on Nos. 17 and 18. She’ll try to make up ground on Sunday en route to a second LPGA Tour win, but knows there’s still a tough 18 holes in front of her. “I think I’m just going to go about it like I would any other day, just treat it the same. Just try to do my best. That’s all I can do,” said Knight. “I may glance at a leaderboard every now and again, but I think even par, a few under goes a long way, especially on this golf course, one shot at a time.”
LYDIA KO BOUNCES BACK FROM OHIO DISAPPOINTMENT
Lydia Ko had no choice but to quickly move on from last Sunday’s disastrous back nine at the Marathon LPGA Classic. After stepping to the 13th tee at Highland Meadows Golf Club with a five-stroke lead, Ko collapsed down the stretch, carding two bogeys and a double bogey over the closing holes and finishing second to Danielle Kang.
“Almost having a tournament right after makes you focus on what’s right there in front of you and I think maybe less think about what happened at Marathon,” said Ko, who has 15 career victories. “Obviously I would have loved to have had one more higher finish in the end. There’s a lot about what happened to me on the last hole. But you have to talk about what amazing golf Danielle played. I just think it really wasn’t meant to be.”
Fast forward one week and Ko is again right in the thick of competition. Her 67 on Saturday was the day’s best round by two strokes, and she enters the final round just two strokes behind leaders Stacy Lewis and Azahara Munoz.
“It’s nice, no matter where you play, to have a bogey-free round like that. I think when I was out of position, I was able to make up-and-down,” said Ko. “Sometimes you have to get lucky having a good lie in the bunker or just off the greens, as well, but I feel like overall, I stayed believing in my game and being aggressive when I needed to and then being a little bit safer when it was a tough pin position, as well. I think you kind of have to manage that really well, and that will give me a good lesson for next week at the British Open.”
Links golf has been a mixed bag of results for Ko. She tied for third at the 2015 AIG Women’s Open at Trump Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, but has no other top-10 finishes in her 10 combined AIG Women’s Open and ASI Ladies Scottish Open appearances.
AIG WOMEN’S OPEN QUALIFYING UPDATE
There were 22 spots available into the 2020 AIG Women’s Open from the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. The following players earned berths in next week’s major championship:
Johanna Gustavsson
Emily Kristine Pedersen
Caroline Inglis
Dani Holmqvist
Eleanor Givens
Muni He
Tvesa Malik
Haley Moore
Yujeong Son
Charlotte Thomas
Becky Morgan
Kylie Henry
Jennifer Chang
Michelle Thompson
Lee-Anne Pace
Sarah Kemp
Alison Lee
Elizabeth Szokol
Jenny Coleman
Luna Sobron Galmes
Julieta Granada
Louise Ridderstrom
Qualifying spots were awarded in the following order:
The leading players, not already exempt, who made the cut at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open
The player(s), not already exempt, with the highest Rolex Rankings from the week of March 16 at the commencement of play, who did not make the cut
Ties in 1 and 2 were decided in favor of the highest-ranked player in the Rolex Rankings from the week of March 16 at the commencement of play
Yamaha hadn’t been on pole at the Red Bull Ring since the track returned to the calendar… until 2020, with Viñales heading a front row covered by less than a tenth
For most people, a tenth of a second isn’t even the blink of an eye, but in MotoGP™ it can decide a lot. And in the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, even less that that covers the three riders on the front row of the grid, with Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales set to start from pole. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) kept him honest in second, with Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) completing the front row – just 0.087 off Viñales. The entire top 12 were covered by half a second, which is the closest we’ve witnessed since 2007.
In Q1 it was Brno podium finisher Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) who came out on top and moved through, ahead of and alongside a jubilant Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) after the Italian had missed the cut in the morning. Somehow though, there was a maybe even bigger talking point in the session – with Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) getting into some serious beef. They both just missed the cut too and will start P13 and P14 respectively, next to each other on the grid…
Once Q2 kicked off though, it was all eyes on Viñales as he came flying out the blocks first, before Quartararo then took over at the summit by a tenth. Soon enough, however, there were red sectors flashing up all over the timing screens, with the field all bang on the money from the off. Miller went P3 before Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) then all exchanged the provisional third, but the Australian took it back as Viñales also truck back against Quartararo at the top.
That lap for the factory Yamaha rider got cancelled, however, and it was suddenly Quartararo back in the driving seat. Viñales wasn’t done there though, and the Spaniard went even quicker to set a 1:23.694 to take over at the top again, this time hanging onto it. Pol Espargaro then shot up to P5, just two tenths adrift, with Mir going third again. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) slotted into P6 at the end of the first runs, and Quartararo managed to closed the gap to Viñales as the dust settled – briefly – and some fresh rubber went in.
The lull in activity didn’t last long, and the hills were soon alive with the sound of MotoGP™ machines once again. The times were about to get even quicker, too. ‘Top Gun’ Viñales improved his time to move the goalposts, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) then going P3 to make it a provisional Yamaha 1-2-3 in Austria. Dovizioso was about to remind everyone of his stellar pace at the Red Bull Ring though, the Italian taking P1 away from Viñales for provisional pole… but it still wasn’t done.
2017 and 2019 race winner Dovizioso didn’t stay at the top for long. Viñales, following Mir, went back to the top of the timesheets to go over a tenth clear of the field as he bounces back in style from a tough race in Brno, and despite some red sectors for the likes of Dovizioso and Pol Espargaro, no one could quite manage to overhaul that lap. That makes Viñales the first premier class polesitter for Yamaha in Austria since Christian Sarron at the Salzburgring in 1988… not bad going at a traditionally tougher track for the Iwata marque!
Pol Espargaro’s initial threat to Viñales became a provisional third, but Dovi – after getting shuffled down by the KTM rider and Quartararo – hit back to push ‘Polyccio’ back off the front row himself. Was anyone going to be able to get amongst it in the final few seconds? You bet.
It was a Pol Espargaro and Jack Miller last chance dash at the end, and the Spaniard couldn’t improve but the Australian certainly did. It wasn’t quite enough for pole but the number 43’s final push split the Yamahas and sees Miller start second behind Viñales, with the ‘holeshot device’ primed, just ahead of Quartararo…
Dovizioso will head up Row 2 just after he announced he will be leaving Ducati at the end of the season, with the Italian veteran and two-time Austrian GP winner not losing a grain of focus as he prepares to push for a third victory. Pol Espargaro lines up fifth and is another, like Dovizioso, who seems to have some serious race pace… they will certainly be hoping they can bypass the likes of Viñales, Miller and Quartararo in the early stages. Joan Mir starts sixth after an impressive Q2 for the Spaniard, edging out Brno podium finisher Morbidelli.
The number 21 Yamaha heads up the third row ahead of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), with Czech GP poleman Zarco with more work to do on Sunday in Austria if he’s to grab a repeat podium finish. It’s ninth for the Frenchman, who finishes 0.044 ahead of Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). Oliveira briefly owned a provisional front row place but will start 11th, just 0.489 from pole, with Q1 graduate Valentino Rossi ending Q2 in 12th… despite finishing only 0.545 off his teammate’s time. It is, after all, the closest top 12 in over a decade.
That’s it from Saturday, with only half a second covering the Q2 field and even more stories down the order. Czech GP winner Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will start 17th as the last KTM rider, with fellow rookie Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech3) starting just ahead of him. Ahead of that, meanwhile, Row 5 is jam-packed with experience, speed and that small slice of beef with Petrucci and Aleix Espargaro joined by Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol).
Got your breath back yet? Viñales grabbed the bull by the horns on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, but who will come out the fight on top on Sunday? And what will the skies look like as race day dawns? Find out if the Ducati dominance in Spielberg will come to an end at 14:00 local time (GMT+2)!
MotoGP™ front row 1 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 1:23.450 2 Jack Miller* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.068 3 Fabio Quartararo* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – +0.087 *Independent Team riders
Maverick Viñales: “I’m really happy because the objective was the front row but suddenly I felt an incredible feeling with the bike, also in FP4 from this morning we’ve made a really big improvement, the team has done a really good job. We need to try to understand for tomorrow’s race what will be the best tyre but the bike is working fantastic, very different to Brno. So I’m very happy and enthusiastic and we know on one lap we’re very fast.”
MotoGP™ front row L-R: Miller, Viñales and Quartararo
Gardner sets new lap record for Red Bull Ring pole
The Australian overhauls Martin to head the grid, with the front row completed by Schrötter
Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR SAG Team) secured his second Grand Prix pole position thanks to a 1:28.681 in Moto2™ Q2 at the myWorld Austrian Grand Prix, setting a new lap record in the process. It’s the Australian’s first front row start since his 2019 Assen pole position, and he edged out Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by just 0.036. Liqui Moly Intact GP’s Marcel Schrötter picks up his first front row since the 2019 German GP in P3, just 0.064 off the top despite coming through Q1.
The number 23 was the fastest in that Q1 session and moved through along with Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing), Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) to fight it out for pole, with the rain staying away too and promising a fight to the finish.
The Q2 session was slightly delayed due to technical issues, but once we got the 15-minute pole position scrap underway, it was Championship leader Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) on top as the riders came round to complete their first flying laps. Sky Racing Team VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini soon changed that, before rookie sensation Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) took over on provisional pole.
With eight minutes to go Bastianini was back at the top, but Martin then beat Nagashima’s previous lap record by just 0.001 to claim provisional pole position at the team’s home race. Gardner then turned up the wick to snatch it back though, keeping it together to cross the line and take his second ever front row start – both of which have been poles. Ultimately, no one was able to challenge him despite a few red sectors, with 0.036 remaining the gap back to Martin and Schrötter looking back on form with P3, just 0.064 adrift.
Bastianini starts fourth and will be eyeing a hat-trick of wins when the Moto2™ riders attack the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, but the points leader has Canet for close company in P5. Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) had to settle for P6 after topping almost every session until qualifying, but amazingly, just 0.037 splits Lowes in P6 to Bezzecchi in 10th, with P1 to P10 covered by just 0.250. Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) recovered from a heavy FP3 crash to head up Row 3 in P7, with Marini and Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) slotting in ahead of 10th place Bezzecchi.
Roberts starts 11th after a solid Saturday, ahead of Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in P12. Baldassarri took 13th ahead of Bulega, with Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completing the fastest fifteen.
Former points leader Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crashed out in the session, and he’ll therefore face a fight back from P18 on the grid.
Who could bet on a winner from that tantalising grid? Martin and Lowes look like they could have the edge on Sunday, but when the lights go out, anything can happen. Will it be wet, will it be dry? Tune in at 12:20 local time (GMT+2) to find out who will take the Moto2™ glory in Austria.
Moto2™ front row
1 Remy Gardner – ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team– Kalex – 1:28.681 2 Jorge Martin – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex +0.036 3 Marcel Schrötter – Liqui Moly Intact GP – Kalex – +0.064
Remy Gardner: “It’s good to be back for the first time since Assen last year, it was a really good lap and I tried to do it on my own, until the fifth or sixth lap i was banging out laps trying to perfect everything. There was one decent one but coming out the last corner I had a big old slide and lost the drive to the line, I think I lost about a tenth, and then I was like alright… time to look for a draft. So I cut off a lap, saw Navarro coming, slotted in behind him and luckily he didn’t shut the gas for the whole lap. I got a pretty good slipstream into Turn 1, 1-2 and 3-4, ultimately that really helped, and out of Turn 7 to Turn 9, I found a bit of speed there with the draft which I think helped the lap. It was a good lap and it feels good to be back!”
Moto2™ front row L-R: Martin. Gardner and Schrötter
On a roll: Fernandez takes home pole for Red Bull KTM Ajo
The Spaniard followed up his maiden pole position with another, but the front row are split by just 0.029
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez has followed up his maiden pole taken in Brno with a perfect rinse and repeat at the Red Bull Ring at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. It was close at the front though as the Spaniard heads up the grid by 0.011, with Championship leader Albert Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team) making it a 1-2 for KTM machinery as he took second. Arenas’ key rival, John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing), starts third but was only 0.029 off the top.
In Q1 in Austria, it was Riccardo Rossi (BOE Skull Rider Facile Energy) on top as the Italian deftly negotiated a gaggle of four all pushing to slipstream, including both Red Bull KTM Tech 3 riders, Ayumu Sasaki and Deniz Öncü, who also made it through. Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) split the two Tech 3s to advance to Q2 as well and with that, the stage was set in the fight for the top 18 places on the grid.
Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) was the man in charge first, before he was deposed by Arenas – the Spaniard using the Italian’s own slipstream – but at the end of a classic mad Moto3™ dash it was Fernandez who came out on top, seemingly out of nowehere. Arenas and McPhee are close, however, and Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) in fourth is still within a tenth of pole as Moto3™ stays on brand as some of the closest racing on Earth.
Joining Masia on Row 2 are Vietti and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse), who was in the group with both the number 13 and Arenas in Q2 in a fight that seemed more like a race at times. The third row is headed up by Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), with Friday’s fastest, Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team), just behind him in P8. Rossi, after his impressive Q1 form, takes a best ever qualifying position in ninth – beating his previous best by a whopping eight places. Öncü completes the top ten in his second best qualifying ever on the world stage.
Brno winner Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) joins Öncü on the fourth row in P11, with Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) in 12th. Championship contender Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) had a tougher Saturday as he lines up in 13th, and he’ll be pushing from the off to get back on terms with Arenas and McPhee, and make sure he keeps his near faultless season intact. Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) took P14 and P15, respectively.
Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was the sole crasher of the session as he highsided at Turn 10, heading for the Medical Centre but judged fit thereafter.
That’s it for Saturday, the grid is decided and it’s an interesting one for race day – as is the weather forecast. How will it play out? Find out from 11:00 (GMT +2) as the lights go out for Moto3™.
Moto3™ front row
1 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM 1:36.277 2 Albert Arenas – Valresa Aspar Team – KTM – +0.011 3 John McPhee – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda – +0.029
Raul Fernandez: “Qualifying was incredible. Yesterday the feeling with the bike wasn’t good, and this morning in the wet we didn’t try the new settings, I tried it in qualifying. On the first exit I couldn’t stop the bike, I don’t know why, I couldn’t brake. On the second it was a bit better, but then I don’t know how I did this super good lap! Tomorrow we need to improve this aspect, but I’m really happy for me, my team, my family and tomorrow I hope we’ll be fighting for the podium.”
Moto3™ front row L-R: Arenas, Fernandez and McPheeMiller heads up the Ducati armada in AustriaQuartararo takes yet another front row start as he looks to increase his points lead on SundayTAXI! Viñales gets a little help from Miller (L) and Lecuona (R)
Prom grabs the lead in pursuit of Pattaya Open record
Aug 16. 2020Prom Meesawat
By THE NATION
Three-time champion Prom Meesawat produced an unblemished third-round performance to grab a two-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Bt3-million Singha Pattaya Open at the Burapha Golf and Resort on Saturday.
Playing under an overcast sky, the 36-year-old sprinkled his round with six birdies for a 64 to grab the lead with a 13-under-par 197 at the par-70 7,125-yard landscape.
The Hua Hin-based golfer is eyeing the tournament record for most number of titles, having triumphed on this course in 2006, 2011 and 2012.
“It’s nice to stand a shot at making a record. But you can never underestimate the younger players who hit big and will try to chase you,” said Prom, who is followed by the trio of Chaiphat Koonmark, 2018 champion Tirawat Kaewsiribandit and overnight leader Runchanapong Youprayong, an amateur.
Prom who has posted several top-five finishes in his recent tournaments pointed out that intensive fitness training during the Covid-19 break had led to his recent good form.
“I can control my shot better because I’m physically fit. You have to be strong to hang out there and compete against the young guys,” added Prom, looking for his first win since the Singha Masters in Chiang Rai in March 2019.
Runchanapong Youprayong
Runchanapong, a Business Administration student at the University of South Florida, was up and down before he settled for a 69 and a total 198.
“I had a good round except on the 11th hole where I hit into the bush and lost a double bogey. Being at this position is good enough for me, as I’d rather seek experience from playing with good players,” said the 19-year-old Runchanapong.
Chaiphat Koonmark
Twenty six-year-old Chaiphat from Ubon Ratchathani province hopes to have a career breakthrough as he tees off on Sunday morning. His best attempt on a pro tour was third position on the Thai PGA Tour event in Khon Kaen province two years ago.
“I will try to give myself a lot of opportunities out there. I have to hit good first and second shots and hope to make some good putts,” Chaiphat said.
Saemapetch advances to ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai final after win over Rodlek
Aug 15. 2020
ONE Championship™ (ONE) put together another spectacular evening of world-class martial arts action. The bustling Thai capital of Bangkok played host to ONE: NO SURRENDER II, a closed-door, audience-free event that showcased the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent.
In the main event of the evening, former ONE World Title challenger Saemapetch Fairtex of Thailand outscored veteran countryman Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym to win by a slight points margin after three rounds and advance to the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Final. Powerful elbow strikes from Saemapetch and sharp counters dominated the action in the first two rounds, as the Fairtex representative beamed with confidence. Rodlek tried his best to match his younger foe’s intensity in a strong third round showing, but it wasn’t enough to offset Saemapetch’s more well-rounded performance all throughout the contest. In the end, Saemapetch did just enough to edge out Rodlek via a close majority decision on the judges’ scorecards.
In a ONE Super Series kickboxing bout, top bantamweight contender Mehdi Zatout of Algeria put forth a comprehensive performance, outscoring Leo Pinto of France over nine minutes of back-and-forth action to clinch a hard-earned victory. Zatout used his superior experience to trump Pinto’s youthful aggression, keeping a consistent pace across all three rounds. To his advantage, Zatout also proved to be the more accurate striker, snaking his punches through Pinto’s tight guard to get the better of nearly every exchange. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Zatout to win by unanimous decision.
ONE Warrior Series contract winner Akihiro “Superjap” Fujisawa of Japan turned in a scintillating performance against hometown bet Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit of Thailand. Mitsatit was aggressive to start the bout, but Fujisawa utilized his veteran experience to stop the Thai athlete’s forward pressure. After defending well against Mitsatit’s attacks by using his wrestling to score on a couple of takedowns, Fujisawa proceeded to trade strikes with “The Smiling Assassin” at the center of the ring. Not long after, Fujisawa sent Mitsatit crashing to the canvas via a flash left hook. Just as Mitsatit appeared to have recovered, however, Fujisawa caught him again with another left hook, which effectively ended matters abruptly in the first round.
Rising featherweight star Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy proved too big and powerful for opponent Pongsiri PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym, as he delivered a superb performance en route to a close split decision victory after three rounds. Sorgraw used his height and reach advantage effectively, keeping Pongsiri at the tail end of his strikes for the duration of the contest. Despite a game effort from Pongsiri, a good body attack from Sorgraw paired with volume striking all throughout the bout was just enough to earn the nod on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
In a flyweight mixed martial arts contest, Thailand’s Yodkaikaew “Y2K” Fairtex brought home a victory for the home team, defeating the United Kingdom’s John Shink by spectacular knockout in the second round. Shink started the first round off strong, keeping Yodkaikaew lagging ineffectively behind solid combinations and a series of well-placed takedowns. In the second round, however, Yodkaikaew turned up the pressure, and was able to land a devastating left hook that sent Shink reeling toward the ropes. Another left put Shink out for good as the referee called a halt to the bout.
Kicking off the action at ONE: NO SURRENDER II in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai flyweight contest, Fahdi “The Gladiator” Khaled of Tunisia dominated opponent Huang Ding of China across three full rounds to win a unanimous decision on the scorecards. Khaled was the busier, more aggressive man from start to end, connecting on an array of strikes that featured beautiful boxing combinations, a sharp right hook, and a plethora of flying knees. Overall, Khaled was just constantly a step ahead of Huang, which led to the one-sided victory.
Official results for ONE: NO SURRENDER II
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Semifinal: Saemapetch Fairtex defeats Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym by Majority Decision (MD) after 3 rounds
Kickboxing Bantamweight: Mehdi Zatout defeats Leo Pinto by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Catch Weight (59.5 KG): Akihiro Fujisawa defeats Pongsiri Mitsatit by Knockout (KO) at 4:55 minutes of round 1
Muay Thai Featherweight: Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy defeats Pongsiri PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Flyweight: Yodkaikaew Fairtex defeats John Shink by Knockout (KO) at 1:11 minutes of round 2
Muay Thai Flyweight: Fahdi Khaled defeats Huang Ding by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
ONE Championship™ (ONE), put together another spectacular evening of world-class martial arts action. The bustling Thai capital of Bangkok played host to ONE: NO SURRENDER II, a closed-door, audience-free event that showcased the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent.
In the main event of the evening, former ONE World Title challenger Saemapetch Fairtex of Thailand outscored veteran countryman Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym to win by a slight points margin after three rounds and advance to the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Final. Powerful elbow strikes from Saemapetch and sharp counters dominated the action in the first two rounds, as the Fairtex representative beamed with confidence. Rodlek tried his best to match his younger foe’s intensity in a strong third round showing, but it wasn’t enough to offset Saemapetch’s more well-rounded performance all throughout the contest. In the end, Saemapetch did just enough to edge out Rodlek via a close majority decision on the judges’ scorecards.
In a ONE Super Series kickboxing bout, top bantamweight contender Mehdi Zatout of Algeria put forth a comprehensive performance, outscoring Leo Pinto of France over nine minutes of back-and-forth action to clinch a hard-earned victory. Zatout used his superior experience to trump Pinto’s youthful aggression, keeping a consistent pace across all three rounds. To his advantage, Zatout also proved to be the more accurate striker, snaking his punches through Pinto’s tight guard to get the better of nearly every exchange. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Zatout to win by unanimous decision.
ONE Warrior Series contract winner Akihiro “Superjap” Fujisawa of Japan turned in a scintillating performance against hometown bet Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit of Thailand. Mitsatit was aggressive to start the bout, but Fujisawa utilized his veteran experience to stop the Thai athlete’s forward pressure. After defending well against Mitsatit’s attacks by using his wrestling to score on a couple of takedowns, Fujisawa proceeded to trade strikes with “The Smiling Assassin” at the center of the ring. Not long after, Fujisawa sent Mitsatit crashing to the canvas via a flash left hook. Just as Mitsatit appeared to have recovered, however, Fujisawa caught him again with another left hook, which effectively ended matters abruptly in the first round.
Rising featherweight star Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy proved too big and powerful for opponent Pongsiri PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym, as he delivered a superb performance en route to a close split decision victory after three rounds. Sorgraw used his height and reach advantage effectively, keeping Pongsiri at the tail end of his strikes for the duration of the contest. Despite a game effort from Pongsiri, a good body attack from Sorgraw paired with volume striking all throughout the bout was just enough to earn the nod on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
In a flyweight mixed martial arts contest, Thailand’s Yodkaikaew “Y2K” Fairtex brought home a victory for the home team, defeating the United Kingdom’s John Shink by spectacular knockout in the second round. Shink started the first round off strong, keeping Yodkaikaew lagging ineffectively behind solid combinations and a series of well-placed takedowns. In the second round, however, Yodkaikaew turned up the pressure, and was able to land a devastating left hook that sent Shink reeling toward the ropes. Another left put Shink out for good as the referee called a halt to the bout.
Kicking off the action at ONE: NO SURRENDER II in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai flyweight contest, Fahdi “The Gladiator” Khaled of Tunisia dominated opponent Huang Ding of China across three full rounds to win a unanimous decision on the scorecards. Khaled was the busier, more aggressive man from start to end, connecting on an array of strikes that featured beautiful boxing combinations, a sharp right hook, and a plethora of flying knees. Overall, Khaled was just constantly a step ahead of Huang, which led to the one-sided victory.
Official results for ONE: NO SURRENDER II
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Tournament Semifinal: Saemapetch Fairtex defeats Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym by Majority Decision (MD) after 3 rounds
Kickboxing Bantamweight: Mehdi Zatout defeats Leo Pinto by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Catch Weight (59.5 KG): Akihiro Fujisawa defeats Pongsiri Mitsatit by Knockout (KO) at 4:55 minutes of round 1
Muay Thai Featherweight: Sorgraw Petchyindee Academy defeats Pongsiri PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Flyweight: Yodkaikaew Fairtex defeats John Shink by Knockout (KO) at 1:11 minutes of round 2
Muay Thai Flyweight: Fahdi Khaled defeats Huang Ding by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Pol Espargaro tops a Friday of two halves, ahead of a back-on-form Dovizioso and impressive Nakagami
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the fastest man on Friday in the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, the KTM rider bouncing back from the disappointment of his Czech GP to take P1 by a small but apt 0.044. Second place went to an Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) on a mission as the Italian shot back up the timseheets after a difficult weekend in Brno, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) completing a top three split by less than two tenths. FP1 was dry and FP2 rain affected, with the weather so far in Styria proving a key protagonist.
FP1
Pol Espargaro’s best lap was his fastest effort from the morning, with the Spaniard exchanging P1 with Dovizioso in the final five minutes but coming out on top. Nakagami also propelled himself into the top echelons in the closing exchanges, taking third in another ultra-competitive MotoGP™ session that saw five manufacturers in the top five.Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) continued to impress as he took fourth despite still being on the road back from a dislocated/fractured shoulder, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) following up his first premier class podium in Brno as the top Yamaha in FP1. Then, from Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) in sixth to Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in tenth there was only a tenth in it – with seventh, eighth and ninth taken by Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) respectively.Bradley Smith (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was the sole crasher of the session despite many pushing to set a banker lap due to the weather forecast, with the Brit going down at Turn 4. He headed to the Medical Centre for a check up and was given the all clear to continue.
1 Pol Espargaro – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM – 1:24.193 2 Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati – +0.044 3 Takaaki Nakagami* – LCR Honda Idemitsu – Honda – +0.185 4 Alex Rins – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – +0.380 5 Franco Morbidelli* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – +0.395 *Independent Team rider
Lowes heads Martin by just 0.010 on Friday
The Brit and the Spaniard duel it out in the last few minutes of FP2, with Bezzecchi third overall
Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) ended Friday at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich as the fastest man in Moto2™, but the Brit had to work for it as he duelled Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) for the honour late in an FP2 characterised by improving conditions. In the end it’s just 0.010 that separates the two, with Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) another tenth and a half back in P3 overall.
FP1
It was Lowes who took the first spoils of the weekend, the Brit ending FP1 at the top – but even then, it was by only 0.016. Bezzecchi was the man just behind him in the morning after a late lunge up the timesheets, with Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completing a top three split by just 0.044.
Jorge Martin and Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) completed the top five in FP1, ahead of Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), rookie Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team), Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) and Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), who locked out the top ten in a session that saw most of the field pushing early doors, spooked by the threat of rain later in the day.
Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing) had a technical problem in the session, and the sole faller was Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team).
FP2
After a sunny morning, it looked like the rain could ruin everyone’s chances of improving but that didn’t quite hold true for Moto2™. After the MotoGP™ field did a solid job of drying up the track just before, the conditions were good enough for riders to really push towards the end, with Lowes going even faster than his own benchmark from the morning. Martin made him work for it though and lost out by an infinitesimal few thousandths as the two traded fast laps at the end.
Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was third in FP2 as the Brit impressed to end the session just two tenths off his compatriot Lowes, with Augusto Fernandez taking fourth and up at the sharp end once again. Brno podium finisher Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) completed the top five with a lap that proves valuable on the combined timesheets as he’d finished FP1 outside the top 14 – and therefore outside the Q2 graduation zone.
Kasma Daniel (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) crashed twice in FP2, and Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) had a run off.
After a day of changeable weather then, it’s Lowes in the driving seat on the combined timesheets ahead of Martin, both with laps from FP2. Bezzecchi takes third ahead of Fernandez, their laps set in the morning, with Jake Dixon’s afternoon heroics meaning the Brit completes the top five overall on Friday. Navarro, Gardner, Canet and Nagashima slot in from sixth to ninth courtesy of their FP1 laptimes, with Roberts’ FP2 best meaning he completes the top ten overall on Day1.
Baldassarri, Marini, Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) are the final four heading straight through to Q2 as it stands, and that leaves one unexpected name out of the graduation zone: Andalucia and Brno winner Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), who was P16 overall…
Can the ‘Beast’ bounce back on Saturday? And will the weather afford him the chance? FP3 is the last opportunity for the field to get an automatic place in Q2, before qualifying from 15:10 (GMT +2).
1 Sam Lowes – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex – 1:28.985 2 Jorge Martin – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex +0.010 3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex +0.164 4 Augusto Fernandez – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex +0.192 5 Jake Dixon – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Kalex +0.222
Arbolino on top in Austria
The Italian ends the day three tenths clear of the field as rain interrupts play in FP2
Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) topped the overall Moto3™ timesheets on Day 1 at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, his FP1 time enough to keep him ahead of the game after rain interrupted action mid-way through FP2. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) ends the day second overall although three tenths down, with Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) taking P3, just a few hundredths off the Scot.
FP1
Arbolino took the baton in FP1, the Italian ending the session three tenths clear and looking dominant, although his best lap was also set behind Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) as he tucked into the Argentinean’s slipstream. McPhee was second, pipping Masia as it tightened up.
A few of the key contenders had laps interrupted after Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez tucked the front at Turn 3 in the closing stages, causing some to have their final laps of the session cancelled as is now automatic under a Yellow Flag. In the end, Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completed a top five split by half a second, although Fernandez, his teammate Kaito Toba, Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia), Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Championship leader Alberto Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team) made sure fourth to tenth was split by less than a tenth.
Rodrigo joined Fernandez as a crasher in the session, with BOE Skull Rider Facile Energy’s Riccardo Rossi also taking a tumble. There was also an incident for Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PruestelGP) as he was passed by Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Moto3) before the latter had a moment, leaving the Swiss rider nowhere to go as he tagged the back of him and went down in a stroke of early bad luck in Austria.
FP2
As the skies and forecasts had been threatening, the afternoon saw the rain come down. Although it was lightly enough at first for the lightweight class, the flag flew to warn the riders just after half way through the session. McPhee was fastest at the time and remained so, but half a second down on Arbolino’s quickest lap from FP1.
Behind McPhee came Rodrigo, and he was one of the few to improve as he knocked half a second off his FP1 best early in the session. Masia was up there once again, with Czech GP winner Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) in fourth; another to improve in FP2. The fastest man in the morning, Arbolino, locked out the top five.
Despite the sketchy conditions, no one came off in FP2, with the lighter rain and then localised downpour on part of the track putting paid to any risk-taking.Heading into Saturday morning with a provisional place in Q2 are therefore Arbolino, McPhee, Masia, Vietti, Antonelli, Fernandez, Toba and Ogura from their FP1 times, with Rodrigo next up in P9 overall courtesy of his afternoon best. Migno, Arenas and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) are tenth, 11th and 12th respectively, with Foggia slotting into 13th with his FP2 lap. Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) completes the provisional Q2 graduates.What will Saturday bring? Will FP3 shakes things up again or see the field face more rain? Moto3™ head back out at 9:00 (GMT +2), before qualifying decides the grid from 12:35.
1 Tony Arbolino – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda 1:36.550 2 John McPhee – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda +0.291 3 Jaume Masia – Leopard Racing – Honda +0.366 4 Celestino Vietti – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KTM +0.489 5 Niccolo Antonelli – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda +0.507
Dovizioso is back near the top after Day 1 in Austria
Nakagami completed the top three in another impressive 2020 performance
Flag-to-flag practice begins on Friday
The weather forecast for the rest of the Austrian GP weekend continues to confound, and flag-to-flag practice popped out to play on Friday. As Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) shows below, sometimes even premier class podium finishers – and Moto2™ World Champions – don’t quite get everything pitch perfect every time…
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