Montgomerie four behind in joint third place in Shanghai
VIVE LA FRANCE! JACQUELIN IS
THREE STROKES AHEAD AT
HALFWAY IN BMW ASIAN OPEN
Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin surged into a comfortable three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the BMW Asian Open today with Korea's Lee Sung leading the chasing pack.
The overnight leader added a three-under-par 69 to his opening round's 66 for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club while Lee, who was born deaf, continued to impress with a 70 for lone second place.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, the winner in 2004, renewed his love-affair with the BMW Asian Open when he charged into contention with a bogey-free 69 to lie five off the lead alongside Colin Montgomerie, Australian Scott Hend, Sweden's Joakim Backstrom and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.
The overnight leader added a three-under-par 69 to his opening round's 66 for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club while Lee, who was born deaf, continued to impress with a 70 for lone second place.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, the winner in 2004, renewed his love-affair with the BMW Asian Open when he charged into contention with a bogey-free 69 to lie five off the lead alongside Colin Montgomerie, Australian Scott Hend, Sweden's Joakim Backstrom and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.
Stephen Gallacher (72-73 for 145) was the only other Scot to survive the halfway cut which ruled out those with 36-hole totals of 147 or higher from the weekend action.
Steven O'Hara missed out by one shot with 75 and 72 for 147. Scott Drummond exited on 148 (76-72), three shots better than Marc Warren (73-78) and Barry Hume continued his slump with 79 and 77 for 156.
World No. 5 Ernie Els, the tournament's drawcard, carded a second straight 71 for a two-day score of 142. The South African knows he has plenty of catching up to do in his attempt to regain the BMW Asian Open title which he won by a record 13 strokes two years ago.
The story so far is Jacquelin and the Frenchman hopes Lady Luck will remain by his side as he searches for a second career title. He has enjoyed a good break with his tee times by having the better half of the weather in Shanghai.
World No. 5 Ernie Els, the tournament's drawcard, carded a second straight 71 for a two-day score of 142. The South African knows he has plenty of catching up to do in his attempt to regain the BMW Asian Open title which he won by a record 13 strokes two years ago.
The story so far is Jacquelin and the Frenchman hopes Lady Luck will remain by his side as he searches for a second career title. He has enjoyed a good break with his tee times by having the better half of the weather in Shanghai.
"We were lucky this afternoon and the wind died on the back nine. You need some luck sometimes and we were lucky with this side of the draw," said Jacquelin.
He took full advantage of calmer conditions, shooting five birdies against two bogeys, and hopes to keep his foot firmly on the pedal after slipping up last weekend at Shanghai Silport when he also led into the weekend by two before finishing tied sixth.
"I am going to play exactly the same. I think the course is a little more fair this week and if you miss the fairway you still have a shot to the green and that will make a big difference for the weekend.
He took full advantage of calmer conditions, shooting five birdies against two bogeys, and hopes to keep his foot firmly on the pedal after slipping up last weekend at Shanghai Silport when he also led into the weekend by two before finishing tied sixth.
"I am going to play exactly the same. I think the course is a little more fair this week and if you miss the fairway you still have a shot to the green and that will make a big difference for the weekend.
PUTTING IMPROVEMENT
"I am really confident with how I'm hitting the ball. I have improved my putting over the last few weeks and I am just trying to make the strokes and the swing as I do during the practice round. And the birdies are coming. If the weather is good we will have to be low to win this tournament and the putter will have to be hot," said Jacquelin.
Lee, who quit playing baseball during his teens as he couldn't communicate with team-mates because of his profound deafness, has emerged as the darkhorse in the BMW Asian Open. He brilliantly saved pars at three of his opening four holes before moving close to the lead with three birdies against a lone dropped shot.
"I got up and down four few times which kept me going," said Lee, who communicates by lip-reading with his father, Kang-kun. "I putted well, had 10 one-putts and 26 in total. I'm swinging it good but I felt average today because of the weather change. Yesterday was cold, today was hot.
"I will take it one shot at a time. There won't be any targets. I want to go out and enjoy it. I'm not thinking about the players in the field, just concentrate on my own game," said Lee, who has five top-10s in his four year career on the Asian Tour.
Jimenez, a 13-time winner in Europe, is feeling right at home at the par-72, 7,326 yard Tomson course, with fond memories of his win in 2004 driving him on. He has also hooked up with the lady club caddie who was on his bag three years ago. The man, nicknamed "The Mechanic" because of his penchant for fast cars, roared into contention with birdies on the 13th, 14th and ninth holes after starting his day from the back nine.
"I am really confident with how I'm hitting the ball. I have improved my putting over the last few weeks and I am just trying to make the strokes and the swing as I do during the practice round. And the birdies are coming. If the weather is good we will have to be low to win this tournament and the putter will have to be hot," said Jacquelin.
Lee, who quit playing baseball during his teens as he couldn't communicate with team-mates because of his profound deafness, has emerged as the darkhorse in the BMW Asian Open. He brilliantly saved pars at three of his opening four holes before moving close to the lead with three birdies against a lone dropped shot.
"I got up and down four few times which kept me going," said Lee, who communicates by lip-reading with his father, Kang-kun. "I putted well, had 10 one-putts and 26 in total. I'm swinging it good but I felt average today because of the weather change. Yesterday was cold, today was hot.
"I will take it one shot at a time. There won't be any targets. I want to go out and enjoy it. I'm not thinking about the players in the field, just concentrate on my own game," said Lee, who has five top-10s in his four year career on the Asian Tour.
Jimenez, a 13-time winner in Europe, is feeling right at home at the par-72, 7,326 yard Tomson course, with fond memories of his win in 2004 driving him on. He has also hooked up with the lady club caddie who was on his bag three years ago. The man, nicknamed "The Mechanic" because of his penchant for fast cars, roared into contention with birdies on the 13th, 14th and ninth holes after starting his day from the back nine.
SOLID TEE TO GREEN
"I feel very comfortable in this position. Five under par after two rounds when it's quite breezy on this golf course is very good. I played very well today, very solid from tee to green and that's the base of my game these last two days," said Jimenez.
His regular bagman did not make the trip to the US$2.3 million event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association, due to a visa snag but the 43-year-old Spaniard was pleased to have Tomson caddie Yong Li-hong by his side again (pictured above).
"I feel very comfortable in this position. Five under par after two rounds when it's quite breezy on this golf course is very good. I played very well today, very solid from tee to green and that's the base of my game these last two days," said Jimenez.
His regular bagman did not make the trip to the US$2.3 million event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association, due to a visa snag but the 43-year-old Spaniard was pleased to have Tomson caddie Yong Li-hong by his side again (pictured above).
"She's my lucky charm. She's a nice lady, she's very kind and it's good to have her on the golf course. She doesn't read the lines because I like to do that myself but it's nice to have her around. Every time I look back, she's always there," he said.
Els was poised for a weekend charge despite another frustrating day on the greens. "Just not making any putts out there," lamented the three-time Major champion. "Anyway I am playing okay, just not scoring. A little frustrating."
After catching the worse of the afternoon weather on Thursday, Els was hoping to find calmer conditions this morning but he was caught surprised by the stiff breeze that greeted him when he teed off.
Els was poised for a weekend charge despite another frustrating day on the greens. "Just not making any putts out there," lamented the three-time Major champion. "Anyway I am playing okay, just not scoring. A little frustrating."
After catching the worse of the afternoon weather on Thursday, Els was hoping to find calmer conditions this morning but he was caught surprised by the stiff breeze that greeted him when he teed off.
"It was exactly the same. I thought we might have caught a bit of a break this morning but it was exactly the same wind as yesterday afternoon."
American John Daly, one of the marquee names this week, crashed out of the tournament after adding a 76 to his opening 79 for 155 - well over the cut mark of 146.
The winner of the BMW Asian Open will walk away with the top cheque US$383,330 on Sunday while the first player to shoot a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th hole will win a BMX X5 vehicle.
American John Daly, one of the marquee names this week, crashed out of the tournament after adding a 76 to his opening 79 for 155 - well over the cut mark of 146.
The winner of the BMW Asian Open will walk away with the top cheque US$383,330 on Sunday while the first player to shoot a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th hole will win a BMX X5 vehicle.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
135 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66-69.
138 Lee Sung (Kor) 68-70.
139 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67-72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70-69, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70-69, Scott Hend (Aus) 69-70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70
140 Simon Dyson (Eng) 70-70, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69-71, Markus Brier (Aut) 71-69
141 Soren Hansen (Den) 71-70, Scott Barr (Aus) 71-70, Kyron Sullivan (Wal) 75-66, Gavin Flint (Aus) 68-73, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72-69, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72-69, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71-70
142 Keith Horne (SAf) 73-69, Ernie Els (SAf) 71-71, David Griffiths (Eng) 73-69, Simon Wakefield (Eng) 72-70, Andrew Mclardy (SAf) 72-70.
143 Tony Carolan (Aus) 69-74, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73-70, Paul Casey (Eng) 72-71, Damien McGrane (Ire) 70-73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73-70, Mark Pilkington (Wal) 71-72, Graeme McDowell (NIr) 73-70, Simon Yates (Sco) 74-69, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68-75, Garry Houston (Wal) 71-72, Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 72-71.
Par 144 (2 x 72)
135 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66-69.
138 Lee Sung (Kor) 68-70.
139 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67-72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70-69, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70-69, Scott Hend (Aus) 69-70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70
140 Simon Dyson (Eng) 70-70, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69-71, Markus Brier (Aut) 71-69
141 Soren Hansen (Den) 71-70, Scott Barr (Aus) 71-70, Kyron Sullivan (Wal) 75-66, Gavin Flint (Aus) 68-73, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72-69, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72-69, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71-70
142 Keith Horne (SAf) 73-69, Ernie Els (SAf) 71-71, David Griffiths (Eng) 73-69, Simon Wakefield (Eng) 72-70, Andrew Mclardy (SAf) 72-70.
143 Tony Carolan (Aus) 69-74, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73-70, Paul Casey (Eng) 72-71, Damien McGrane (Ire) 70-73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73-70, Mark Pilkington (Wal) 71-72, Graeme McDowell (NIr) 73-70, Simon Yates (Sco) 74-69, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68-75, Garry Houston (Wal) 71-72, Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 72-71.
In following scores, players are from GB&I unless stated, (x) denotes amateur:
144 Richard Sterne (SAf) 70 74, Adam Blyth (Aus) 71 73, Brett Rumford (Aus) 75 69, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 73, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 73 71, Kane Webber (Aus) 71 73, Keng-chi Lin (Tpe) 73 71, Chris Rodgers 73 71, David Bransdon (Aus) 76 68
145 Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73, Jason Knutzon (US) 75 70, Wen-hong Lin (Chn) 69 76, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 73, Stephen Gallacher 72 73, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 75 70, Marcus Both (Aus) 71 74, Edward Loar (USA) 70 75, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 72, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73, Andres Romero (Arg) 75 70, Jean-Francois Luquin (Fra) 71 74, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 72, Reftief Goosen (SAf) 71 74, James Kingston (SAf) 74 71
146 Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 74 72, Wen-tang Lin (Chn) 73 73, Lian-wei Zhang (Chn) 73 73, Peter Lawrie 75 71, Simon Hurd 74 72, Shaun P Webster 72 74, Yasin Ali 74 72, Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 71, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 74, Jun-won Park (Kor) 69 77, Edward Michaels (US) 74 72, Gary Murphy 74 72
MISSED CUT
147 Steven O'Hara 75 72, Marcus Higley 72 75, Benn Barham 74 73, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 74 73, Oliver Fisher 75 72, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 74 73, Mahal Pearce (NZ) 74 73, Unho Park (Aus) 74 73, Terry Pilkardis (Aus) 75 72, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 74 73, (x) Mu Hu (Chn) 73 74, Jong-yul Suk (Kor) 71 76, Gary Rusnak (US) 72 75, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 73 74, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 74 73
148 Scott Drummond 76 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 76 72, Craig Kamps (Rsa) 76 72, Andrew Marshall 75 73, Peter Fowler (Aus) 73 75, Ter-chang Wang (Tpe) 76 72, Miles Tunnicliff 76 72, Gareth Davies 73 75, Stephen Dodd 73 75, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 76 72, Anthony Kang (US) 71 77
149 Airil Rizman (Mas) 77 72, Bryan Saltus (US) 73 76, Angelo Que (Phi) 74 75, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 79 70, Graeme Storm 79 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 77 72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 77 72, Weng-teh Lu (Tpe) 76 73, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 78 71
150 Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 74 76, Adam Groom (Aus) 77 73, Richard Lee (NZ) 75 75, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 76 74, S.S.P Chowrasia (Ind) 75 75, Shu-tao Gu (Chn) 77 73, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 72 78, Rick Gibson (Can) 77 73, Ted Oh (Kor) 76 74, Gary Simpson (Aus) 78 72, Marrten Lafeber (Ned) 75 75, Gary Emerson 75 75, Mimg-jie Huan (Chn) 73 77
151 Marc Warren 73 78, Amandeep Johl (Ind) 75 76, Zhi-jin Xiao (Chn) 76 75, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 75 76
152 Wook-soon Kang (Kor) 77 75, Yong-huan Huang (Chn) 78 74, Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 78 74, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 75 77, Li Chao (Chn) 72 80, Wei-huang Wu (Chn) 74 78
153 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 78 75, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 80 73, Scott Strange (Aus) 76 77, (x) Jian-feng Ye (Chn) 74 79, Ross Fisher 77 76, Weng-gen Deng (Chn) 76 77
154 Richard Finch 77 77, Barry Lane 77 77, Lei Shang (Chn) 79 75, Henry Liaw (Chn) 80 74, Wei-chih Lu (Tpe) 80 74, Clay Devers (USA) 74 80
155 John Daly (US) 79 76, Iain Steel (Mas) 76 79, James Heath 73 82
156 Mike Cunning (US) 75 81, Danny Chia (Mas) 77 79, Barry Hume 79 77
157 Tze-chung Chen (Chn) 77 80, Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf) 80 77
159 Zhi-feng Qiu (Chn) 81 78
160 Gui-ming Liao (Chn) 79 81
161 Shao-guang Zheng (Chn) 82 79
163 Yong-zong Tan (Chn) 83 80, Lei Gao (Chn) 77 86
164 Zeng-fa Qi (Chn) 80 84
Withdrew: Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 79
145 Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73, Jason Knutzon (US) 75 70, Wen-hong Lin (Chn) 69 76, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 73, Stephen Gallacher 72 73, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 75 70, Marcus Both (Aus) 71 74, Edward Loar (USA) 70 75, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 72, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73, Andres Romero (Arg) 75 70, Jean-Francois Luquin (Fra) 71 74, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 72, Reftief Goosen (SAf) 71 74, James Kingston (SAf) 74 71
146 Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 74 72, Wen-tang Lin (Chn) 73 73, Lian-wei Zhang (Chn) 73 73, Peter Lawrie 75 71, Simon Hurd 74 72, Shaun P Webster 72 74, Yasin Ali 74 72, Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 71, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 74, Jun-won Park (Kor) 69 77, Edward Michaels (US) 74 72, Gary Murphy 74 72
MISSED CUT
147 Steven O'Hara 75 72, Marcus Higley 72 75, Benn Barham 74 73, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 74 73, Oliver Fisher 75 72, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 74 73, Mahal Pearce (NZ) 74 73, Unho Park (Aus) 74 73, Terry Pilkardis (Aus) 75 72, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 74 73, (x) Mu Hu (Chn) 73 74, Jong-yul Suk (Kor) 71 76, Gary Rusnak (US) 72 75, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 73 74, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 74 73
148 Scott Drummond 76 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 76 72, Craig Kamps (Rsa) 76 72, Andrew Marshall 75 73, Peter Fowler (Aus) 73 75, Ter-chang Wang (Tpe) 76 72, Miles Tunnicliff 76 72, Gareth Davies 73 75, Stephen Dodd 73 75, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 76 72, Anthony Kang (US) 71 77
149 Airil Rizman (Mas) 77 72, Bryan Saltus (US) 73 76, Angelo Que (Phi) 74 75, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 79 70, Graeme Storm 79 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 77 72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 77 72, Weng-teh Lu (Tpe) 76 73, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 78 71
150 Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 74 76, Adam Groom (Aus) 77 73, Richard Lee (NZ) 75 75, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 76 74, S.S.P Chowrasia (Ind) 75 75, Shu-tao Gu (Chn) 77 73, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 72 78, Rick Gibson (Can) 77 73, Ted Oh (Kor) 76 74, Gary Simpson (Aus) 78 72, Marrten Lafeber (Ned) 75 75, Gary Emerson 75 75, Mimg-jie Huan (Chn) 73 77
151 Marc Warren 73 78, Amandeep Johl (Ind) 75 76, Zhi-jin Xiao (Chn) 76 75, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 75 76
152 Wook-soon Kang (Kor) 77 75, Yong-huan Huang (Chn) 78 74, Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 78 74, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 75 77, Li Chao (Chn) 72 80, Wei-huang Wu (Chn) 74 78
153 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 78 75, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 80 73, Scott Strange (Aus) 76 77, (x) Jian-feng Ye (Chn) 74 79, Ross Fisher 77 76, Weng-gen Deng (Chn) 76 77
154 Richard Finch 77 77, Barry Lane 77 77, Lei Shang (Chn) 79 75, Henry Liaw (Chn) 80 74, Wei-chih Lu (Tpe) 80 74, Clay Devers (USA) 74 80
155 John Daly (US) 79 76, Iain Steel (Mas) 76 79, James Heath 73 82
156 Mike Cunning (US) 75 81, Danny Chia (Mas) 77 79, Barry Hume 79 77
157 Tze-chung Chen (Chn) 77 80, Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf) 80 77
159 Zhi-feng Qiu (Chn) 81 78
160 Gui-ming Liao (Chn) 79 81
161 Shao-guang Zheng (Chn) 82 79
163 Yong-zong Tan (Chn) 83 80, Lei Gao (Chn) 77 86
164 Zeng-fa Qi (Chn) 80 84
Withdrew: Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 79
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, April 20, 2007
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