Four strokes dropped from the 15th to the 18th in Johnnie Walker Classic
FOUR HOLES KILL PAUL
As England's Oliver Wilson jumped into the lead with a six-under-par 66 for the halfway lead on 10-under-par 134, Aberdeen's Paul Lawrie was rueing a disastrous four holes that cost him a place in the field for this weekend's last two rounds in the $2.44million Johnnie Walker Classic at Blue Canyon Country Club, Phuket in Thailand.
Lawrie, pictured right, after an opening 74, needed at least a two-under-par 70 today to match the projected halfway cut figure of level par 144.
Starting at the 10th hole at 7.30am, Paul reeled off four par figures and then dropped four shots to par over the last four holes of the half. He bogeyed the par-4 15th, then the short 17th before a double-bogey disastrous 6 at the 18th.
Turning in 40, the 1999 Open champion made a brave bid to retrieve the situation. He birdied the first and fourth, bogeyed the fifth and then birdied the eighth and ninth for 33 over his second nine. Paul's 73 put him on 147 - three strokes too many to retain an active interest in the tournament.
Lawrie could certainly have done with Oliver Wilson's inward 32 which included two eagles. The former US college circuit player goes into the third round one stroke ahead of 20-year-old South African Anton Haig, who equalled Greg Norman's long-standing course record with an outstanding 64.
Australian James Nitties, another emerging player in his 20s, carded a 67 for equal third place alongside two-time Major champion Retief Goosen, who has had a pair of solid 68s for 136.
After turning in 34, Wilson, bidding for a maiden professional victory, charged ahead with a run of two eagles and a birdie over a stretch of five holes but needed to hole a brave six-footer to save bogey on the last after a wayward drive. He drained a 12-footer for his first eagle on 11, and then chipped in from the back of the green on the 15th.
"I've just been working on a few mental things really this week trying to stay relaxed and enjoy it and it seems to work. So if I can keep doing that, you know, and you never know what happens on the weekend," said Wilson.
Part of Wilson's preparation included a holiday in the Bahamas and he hopes to deliver a final twist by winning the Johnnie Walker Classic ahead of the big guns. "I'm sure the cream always rises to the top. So you know those guys are going to be coming down the stretch, they are probably going to be around there. Hopefully they will be chasing me," said Wilson, who finished runner-up in the 2005 Volvo China Open after losing in a play-off to Paul Casey.
Haig, who claimed a maiden victory on the Asian Tour last season, rattled in an eagle 2 on the 13th hole, driving the green and draining a 30ft putt, and enjoyed seven other birdies to surge into contention.
The big-hitting Haig has been hailed as a rising star and he underlined his growing prospects with a wonderful ball-striking display. "I've been practising hard and working a bit on the golf swing, and my coach has really helped me back in South Africa. It's about time that it's shown on the golf course," he said.
Ernie Else, one of the pre-tournament favourites, is nine shots off the pace after adding a 70 to his first-round 73.
World No. 4 Adam Scott of Australia, the highest ranked player in the elite field, improved by five shots with a 69 and is tied with Els on 143.
South African Richard Sterne, who had brought his luggage to the club in anticipation of an early exit after an opening 75, equalled the course record of 64 set by Norman when the Aussie legend won the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1994. Sterne moved up to equal 11th on 139.
First-round leader Brad Kennedy of Australia had a frustrating day with a 77 and slipped down to joint 32nd place on 142.
Biggest name among the non-qualifiers was Ryder Cup player Paul Casey with 71 and 74 for 146.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
134 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 68 66.
135 Anton Haig (SAf) 71 64.
136 Retief Goosen (SAf) 68 68, James Nitties (Aus) 69 67.
137 Richard Lee (NZ) 67 70.
138 Peter Hanson (Swe) 66 72, Wang Ter-chang (Tpe) 68 70, Richard Bland (Eng) 68 70, Kim Felton (Aus) 70 68, Adam Bland (Aus) 71 67.
139 Graeme Storm (Eng) 66 73, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67 72, Keith Horne (SAf) 68 71, David Frost (SAf) 69 70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70 (34-36), Nick Flanagan (Aus) 70 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 68, Richard Sterne (SAf) 75 64.
140 Peter Fowler (Aus) 68 72, Marc Warren (Sco) 68 72 (37-35), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 70 70, Garry Houston (Wal) 72 68.
141 Lin Keng-Chi (Tpe) 70 71, Zhang Lian-wei (Chi) 70 71, Jarrod Moseley (Aus) 70 71, Simon Dyson (Eng) 71 70, Chris Rodgers (Eng) 71 70, Matthew Millar (Aus) 71 70, Jean Van De Velde (Fra) 72 69, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 72 69, Gary Orr (Sco) 73 68 (34-34).
Other qualifiers included:
142 Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 66 76 (39-37), Barry Hume (Sco) 68 74 (37-37), Brad Kennedy (Aus) 65 77.
143 Adam Scott (Aus) 74 69, Ernie Els (SAfr) 73-70, Alastair Forsyth (Sco) 74 70 (38-32).
144 Andrew Coltart (Sco) 72 72 (37-35).
NON-QUALIFIERS INCLUDED:
146 Paul Casey (Eng) 71 75.
147 Paul Lawrie (Sco) 74 73 (33-40).
148 Simon Yates (Sco) 72 76 (36-40).
155 Scott Drummond (Sco) 77 78 (39-39).
For further information visit www.asiantour.com.
Lawrie, pictured right, after an opening 74, needed at least a two-under-par 70 today to match the projected halfway cut figure of level par 144.
Starting at the 10th hole at 7.30am, Paul reeled off four par figures and then dropped four shots to par over the last four holes of the half. He bogeyed the par-4 15th, then the short 17th before a double-bogey disastrous 6 at the 18th.
Turning in 40, the 1999 Open champion made a brave bid to retrieve the situation. He birdied the first and fourth, bogeyed the fifth and then birdied the eighth and ninth for 33 over his second nine. Paul's 73 put him on 147 - three strokes too many to retain an active interest in the tournament.
Lawrie could certainly have done with Oliver Wilson's inward 32 which included two eagles. The former US college circuit player goes into the third round one stroke ahead of 20-year-old South African Anton Haig, who equalled Greg Norman's long-standing course record with an outstanding 64.
Australian James Nitties, another emerging player in his 20s, carded a 67 for equal third place alongside two-time Major champion Retief Goosen, who has had a pair of solid 68s for 136.
After turning in 34, Wilson, bidding for a maiden professional victory, charged ahead with a run of two eagles and a birdie over a stretch of five holes but needed to hole a brave six-footer to save bogey on the last after a wayward drive. He drained a 12-footer for his first eagle on 11, and then chipped in from the back of the green on the 15th.
"I've just been working on a few mental things really this week trying to stay relaxed and enjoy it and it seems to work. So if I can keep doing that, you know, and you never know what happens on the weekend," said Wilson.
Part of Wilson's preparation included a holiday in the Bahamas and he hopes to deliver a final twist by winning the Johnnie Walker Classic ahead of the big guns. "I'm sure the cream always rises to the top. So you know those guys are going to be coming down the stretch, they are probably going to be around there. Hopefully they will be chasing me," said Wilson, who finished runner-up in the 2005 Volvo China Open after losing in a play-off to Paul Casey.
Haig, who claimed a maiden victory on the Asian Tour last season, rattled in an eagle 2 on the 13th hole, driving the green and draining a 30ft putt, and enjoyed seven other birdies to surge into contention.
The big-hitting Haig has been hailed as a rising star and he underlined his growing prospects with a wonderful ball-striking display. "I've been practising hard and working a bit on the golf swing, and my coach has really helped me back in South Africa. It's about time that it's shown on the golf course," he said.
Ernie Else, one of the pre-tournament favourites, is nine shots off the pace after adding a 70 to his first-round 73.
World No. 4 Adam Scott of Australia, the highest ranked player in the elite field, improved by five shots with a 69 and is tied with Els on 143.
South African Richard Sterne, who had brought his luggage to the club in anticipation of an early exit after an opening 75, equalled the course record of 64 set by Norman when the Aussie legend won the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1994. Sterne moved up to equal 11th on 139.
First-round leader Brad Kennedy of Australia had a frustrating day with a 77 and slipped down to joint 32nd place on 142.
Biggest name among the non-qualifiers was Ryder Cup player Paul Casey with 71 and 74 for 146.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
134 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 68 66.
135 Anton Haig (SAf) 71 64.
136 Retief Goosen (SAf) 68 68, James Nitties (Aus) 69 67.
137 Richard Lee (NZ) 67 70.
138 Peter Hanson (Swe) 66 72, Wang Ter-chang (Tpe) 68 70, Richard Bland (Eng) 68 70, Kim Felton (Aus) 70 68, Adam Bland (Aus) 71 67.
139 Graeme Storm (Eng) 66 73, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67 72, Keith Horne (SAf) 68 71, David Frost (SAf) 69 70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70 (34-36), Nick Flanagan (Aus) 70 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 68, Richard Sterne (SAf) 75 64.
140 Peter Fowler (Aus) 68 72, Marc Warren (Sco) 68 72 (37-35), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 70 70, Garry Houston (Wal) 72 68.
141 Lin Keng-Chi (Tpe) 70 71, Zhang Lian-wei (Chi) 70 71, Jarrod Moseley (Aus) 70 71, Simon Dyson (Eng) 71 70, Chris Rodgers (Eng) 71 70, Matthew Millar (Aus) 71 70, Jean Van De Velde (Fra) 72 69, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 72 69, Gary Orr (Sco) 73 68 (34-34).
Other qualifiers included:
142 Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 66 76 (39-37), Barry Hume (Sco) 68 74 (37-37), Brad Kennedy (Aus) 65 77.
143 Adam Scott (Aus) 74 69, Ernie Els (SAfr) 73-70, Alastair Forsyth (Sco) 74 70 (38-32).
144 Andrew Coltart (Sco) 72 72 (37-35).
NON-QUALIFIERS INCLUDED:
146 Paul Casey (Eng) 71 75.
147 Paul Lawrie (Sco) 74 73 (33-40).
148 Simon Yates (Sco) 72 76 (36-40).
155 Scott Drummond (Sco) 77 78 (39-39).
For further information visit www.asiantour.com.
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, March 02, 2007
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