Asian Tour Press Release
LORENZO-VERA MANTAINS GRIP
ON LEAD AT VOLVO CHINA OPEN
Beijing, April 18: Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France is enjoying one of the best starts to his rookie year. He he produced another battling performance to move a single shot ahead of his closest rivals at the Volvo China Open today.
Lorenzo-Vera carded a three-under-par 69 to take his two-day total to eight-under-par 136, one ahead of England’s Richard Finch and Ireland’s Damien McGrane.
England’s Oliver Wilson, who posted the day’s best score of 66, is a further shot back in fourth place while defending champion, Markus Brier of Austria is tied for fifth with Jason Knutzon of the United States and England’s Zane Scotland and Simon Griffiths
With the euphoria of taking the lead at the US$2.2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association, Lorenzo-Vera knows that he will have to work hard on remaining calm and finding some well-needed sleep before the weekend rounds get underway.
“I always look super relaxed but the hands are sometimes shaking. It took nine holes to get me relaxed today. Normally it takes three holes but not today,” said Lorenzo-Vera who finished with a mix of seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
“I suppose the weekend will be harder. Yesterday it was quite hard for me to get to sleep as I was thinking too much about what might happen. Maybe I will take pills to sleep,” added Lorenzo-Vera.
Finch, who was the early halfway leader in the morning, began the day trailing overnight leader Lorenzo-Vera by a single shot. The Englishman recorded an opening bogey when he teed off on the opening front nine. However, he made amends and was quickly on the charge after that.
“It was benign and lovely out there in the morning. The wind did pick up as we played the back nine but nothing compared to yesterday,” said Finch who had to battle the gusty conditions on his opening day.
“Yesterday I got off to a great start and that gave me a cushion to play well. I just have to stay patient now,” added Finch who is seeking his first win on an Asian Tour and European Tour sanctioned event this season.
Griffiths meanwhile, got off the blocks with an opening eagle 3 on the 557yd par-5 10th but made four costly bogeys on his opening back nine to make the turn at 38.
The Asian Tour regular redeemed himself on his homeward run reeling in two birdies against another bogey to finish in 72.
“This course can bite you any minute. You’ve got to keep trying as hard as you can. It is a difficult course,” said Griffiths.
“I didn’t really play exceptionally well, couple of good shots but difficult. It’s breezy and the greens are hard to read,” added the Asian Tour regular.
Australia’s Adam Groom had the proud distinction of scoring a hole-in-one at the third (193yd)with a five-iron. The Australian returned with a 143 to take a share of 17th place.
The cut was set at four-over par with a total of 69 players making it into the weekend rounds.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
136 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 67 69
137 Richard Finch (Eng) 68 69, Damien McGrane (Ire) 68 69.
138 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 72 66.
140 Markus Brier (Australia) 71 69, Simon Griffiths (Eng) 68 72, Jason Knutzon (US) 68 72, Zane Scotland (ENG) 68 72.
141 Liang Wen-chong (Chn) 73 68, Robert-Jan Derksen (Net) 70 71, Airil Rizman (Mas) 69 72, Joost Luiten (Net) 68 73.
Other scores:
142 S Walker (Eng) 71 71.
143 S Wakefield (Eng) 72 71.
144 S Yates (Sco) 72 72, M Tunnicliff (Eng) 70 74.
145 R Davies (Wal) 71 74, D Howell (Eng) 72 73, G McDCowell (NIr) 73 72, P Price (Wal), 74 71, P Whiteford (Sco) 73 72.
146 J Bickerton (Eng0 70 76, R Fisher (Eng0 74 72, P Lawrie (Sco) 71 75, S Manley (Wal) 72 74, R Bain (Sco) 73 73.
147 S Little (Eng) 74 73.
148 P Broadhurst (Eng) 76 72, B Lane (Eng) 73 74.
+Players with 36-hole totals of 149 or better qualified for the last two rounds.
149 G Houston (Wal) 76 73.
150 O Fisher (Eng) 74 76.
151 S Dodd (Wal) 75 76, Peter Lawrie (Ire) 79 72, I Pyman (Eng) 77 74.
152 G Murphy (Ire) 75 77, S Hurd (Eng) 76 76.
153 S Khan (Eng) 74 79.
154 A Wall (Eng) 81 73, A Coltart (Sco) 76 78, C Rodgers (Eng) 78 76.
155 R Dinwiddie (Eng) 75 80, T Whitehouse (Eng) 76 75.
156 R McGowan (Eng) 76 80.
ON LEAD AT VOLVO CHINA OPEN
Beijing, April 18: Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France is enjoying one of the best starts to his rookie year. He he produced another battling performance to move a single shot ahead of his closest rivals at the Volvo China Open today.
Lorenzo-Vera carded a three-under-par 69 to take his two-day total to eight-under-par 136, one ahead of England’s Richard Finch and Ireland’s Damien McGrane.
England’s Oliver Wilson, who posted the day’s best score of 66, is a further shot back in fourth place while defending champion, Markus Brier of Austria is tied for fifth with Jason Knutzon of the United States and England’s Zane Scotland and Simon Griffiths
With the euphoria of taking the lead at the US$2.2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association, Lorenzo-Vera knows that he will have to work hard on remaining calm and finding some well-needed sleep before the weekend rounds get underway.
“I always look super relaxed but the hands are sometimes shaking. It took nine holes to get me relaxed today. Normally it takes three holes but not today,” said Lorenzo-Vera who finished with a mix of seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
“I suppose the weekend will be harder. Yesterday it was quite hard for me to get to sleep as I was thinking too much about what might happen. Maybe I will take pills to sleep,” added Lorenzo-Vera.
Finch, who was the early halfway leader in the morning, began the day trailing overnight leader Lorenzo-Vera by a single shot. The Englishman recorded an opening bogey when he teed off on the opening front nine. However, he made amends and was quickly on the charge after that.
“It was benign and lovely out there in the morning. The wind did pick up as we played the back nine but nothing compared to yesterday,” said Finch who had to battle the gusty conditions on his opening day.
“Yesterday I got off to a great start and that gave me a cushion to play well. I just have to stay patient now,” added Finch who is seeking his first win on an Asian Tour and European Tour sanctioned event this season.
Griffiths meanwhile, got off the blocks with an opening eagle 3 on the 557yd par-5 10th but made four costly bogeys on his opening back nine to make the turn at 38.
The Asian Tour regular redeemed himself on his homeward run reeling in two birdies against another bogey to finish in 72.
“This course can bite you any minute. You’ve got to keep trying as hard as you can. It is a difficult course,” said Griffiths.
“I didn’t really play exceptionally well, couple of good shots but difficult. It’s breezy and the greens are hard to read,” added the Asian Tour regular.
Australia’s Adam Groom had the proud distinction of scoring a hole-in-one at the third (193yd)with a five-iron. The Australian returned with a 143 to take a share of 17th place.
The cut was set at four-over par with a total of 69 players making it into the weekend rounds.
FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
136 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 67 69
137 Richard Finch (Eng) 68 69, Damien McGrane (Ire) 68 69.
138 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 72 66.
140 Markus Brier (Australia) 71 69, Simon Griffiths (Eng) 68 72, Jason Knutzon (US) 68 72, Zane Scotland (ENG) 68 72.
141 Liang Wen-chong (Chn) 73 68, Robert-Jan Derksen (Net) 70 71, Airil Rizman (Mas) 69 72, Joost Luiten (Net) 68 73.
Other scores:
142 S Walker (Eng) 71 71.
143 S Wakefield (Eng) 72 71.
144 S Yates (Sco) 72 72, M Tunnicliff (Eng) 70 74.
145 R Davies (Wal) 71 74, D Howell (Eng) 72 73, G McDCowell (NIr) 73 72, P Price (Wal), 74 71, P Whiteford (Sco) 73 72.
146 J Bickerton (Eng0 70 76, R Fisher (Eng0 74 72, P Lawrie (Sco) 71 75, S Manley (Wal) 72 74, R Bain (Sco) 73 73.
147 S Little (Eng) 74 73.
148 P Broadhurst (Eng) 76 72, B Lane (Eng) 73 74.
+Players with 36-hole totals of 149 or better qualified for the last two rounds.
149 G Houston (Wal) 76 73.
150 O Fisher (Eng) 74 76.
151 S Dodd (Wal) 75 76, Peter Lawrie (Ire) 79 72, I Pyman (Eng) 77 74.
152 G Murphy (Ire) 75 77, S Hurd (Eng) 76 76.
153 S Khan (Eng) 74 79.
154 A Wall (Eng) 81 73, A Coltart (Sco) 76 78, C Rodgers (Eng) 78 76.
155 R Dinwiddie (Eng) 75 80, T Whitehouse (Eng) 76 75.
156 R McGowan (Eng) 76 80.
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, April 18, 2008
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