EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT
Henry, McLeary survive but Saltmans
and Eric Ramsay fail to beat the cut
From Michael Gibbons, Challenge Tour Press Officer
Scott Henry and Jamie McLeary will fly the flag for Scotland at the European Challenge Tour’s Kärnten Golf Open, presented by Markus Brier Foundation, over the weekend.
Henry is the leading Scot in the field on five under par 139, but despite fine opening rounds of 69-70 he finds himself nine strokes off the frightening pace set by Spain’s Carlos Rodiles who carded successive 65s to storm to the top of the leaderboard on 14 under par 130.
McLeary produced a fine second round of four under par 68 to just make the two-under-par cut (142 or better), but it was not to be for Saltman brothers Lloyd (level par 144) and Elliott (146) who missed out on the weekend along with Eric Ramsay (145).
Carlos Rodiles, Adam Gee and Christophe Günther stole the show on day two.
Brier may have delighted the home crowds with a morning 66 to move to ten under par, alongside Challenge Tour No. 1 Gary Boyd, at the halfway stage, but it was Rodiles’ second consecutive 65, coupled with Gee and Günther’s stunning pair of course record 63s, that grabbed the attention at the Golfclub Klagenfurt-Seltenheim.
Rodiles was quick to point out that his seven under par effort was actually his third successive 65, having posted that same number during the final round of the Telenet Trophy last weekend en route to finishing in second place.
The Spaniard is keen to go one better this weekend, though, and, given his current form, will be a hard man to be over the closing 36 holes.
“It’s actually three 65s in a row because I shot that score for my last round in Belgium last week – hopefully that’s my magic number for the rest of the week as well!” smiled Rodiles, who leads on 14 under par 130.
“The funny thing is I haven’t been making good starts to these rounds. I birdied the first today but then had two bogeys in the next three holes to be one over for the day after four.
“It was only from the seventh that I really got going and made a great finish to the round. I birdied 13, then made a great eagle on 14 and kept it going with birdies on 15, 16 and 17 and that is always a satisfying way to finish.
“There are still two more rounds to go – I could go 72-72 over the weekend and then I am totally out of it so we will see what happens over the weekend”
If Gee and Günther can repeat their second round form over the weekend the pair will turn the tournament into a two-horse race.
Günther was first in with his 63, as he carved out nine birdies and nine pars to move within one stroke of Rodiles’s 14 under halfway lead.
Gee’s 63 included an eagle and seven birdies, a sensational effort that elevated him to 12 under for the tournament to join the outstanding young German Florian Fritsch, two off the pace and one behind Günther.
Rodiles, Gee and Günther produced a huge amount of quality golf between them, but none of the trio produced as perfect a pair of shots as Alex Haindl of Austria and Welshman Laskey who both aced the 224yd par-3 fourth hole.
Englishman John Parry occupies fifth spot on the leaderboard after a second round 65 took him to 11 under, one ahead of Boyd and Brier going into the weekend.
Brier was pleased with his work so far in a tournament that he has worked tirelessly to promote through his own foundation.
“So far, so good,” was the double European Tour champion’s verdict of his opening scores of 68-66. “I am pleased with how it’s going and how I am playing. It was good to make the cut and actually be in contention for the weekend because hopefully that will bring more focus on the tournament and what we are trying to do here.
“A lot of the young Austrian players are doing well and the more young guys we have playing over the weekend then the more of a success the tournament will be.”
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
130 C Rodiles (Spa) 65 65.
131 C Gunther (Ger) 68 63.
132 F Fritsch (Ger) 65 67, A Gee (Eng) 69 63.
133 J Parry (Eng) 68 65.
134 G Boyd (Eng) 68 66, M Brier (Aut) 68 66.
Selected scores:
137 G Shaw (NIr) 70 67 (jt 11th).
139 S Henry (Sco) 69 70 (jt 28th).
142 J McLeary (Sco) 75 67 (jt 55th).
MISSED THE CUT (142 or better)
144 L Saltman (Sco) 74 70.
145 E Ramsay (Sco) 77 68.
146 E Saltman (Sco) 73 73.
and Eric Ramsay fail to beat the cut
From Michael Gibbons, Challenge Tour Press Officer
Scott Henry and Jamie McLeary will fly the flag for Scotland at the European Challenge Tour’s Kärnten Golf Open, presented by Markus Brier Foundation, over the weekend.
Henry is the leading Scot in the field on five under par 139, but despite fine opening rounds of 69-70 he finds himself nine strokes off the frightening pace set by Spain’s Carlos Rodiles who carded successive 65s to storm to the top of the leaderboard on 14 under par 130.
McLeary produced a fine second round of four under par 68 to just make the two-under-par cut (142 or better), but it was not to be for Saltman brothers Lloyd (level par 144) and Elliott (146) who missed out on the weekend along with Eric Ramsay (145).
Carlos Rodiles, Adam Gee and Christophe Günther stole the show on day two.
Brier may have delighted the home crowds with a morning 66 to move to ten under par, alongside Challenge Tour No. 1 Gary Boyd, at the halfway stage, but it was Rodiles’ second consecutive 65, coupled with Gee and Günther’s stunning pair of course record 63s, that grabbed the attention at the Golfclub Klagenfurt-Seltenheim.
Rodiles was quick to point out that his seven under par effort was actually his third successive 65, having posted that same number during the final round of the Telenet Trophy last weekend en route to finishing in second place.
The Spaniard is keen to go one better this weekend, though, and, given his current form, will be a hard man to be over the closing 36 holes.
“It’s actually three 65s in a row because I shot that score for my last round in Belgium last week – hopefully that’s my magic number for the rest of the week as well!” smiled Rodiles, who leads on 14 under par 130.
“The funny thing is I haven’t been making good starts to these rounds. I birdied the first today but then had two bogeys in the next three holes to be one over for the day after four.
“It was only from the seventh that I really got going and made a great finish to the round. I birdied 13, then made a great eagle on 14 and kept it going with birdies on 15, 16 and 17 and that is always a satisfying way to finish.
“There are still two more rounds to go – I could go 72-72 over the weekend and then I am totally out of it so we will see what happens over the weekend”
If Gee and Günther can repeat their second round form over the weekend the pair will turn the tournament into a two-horse race.
Günther was first in with his 63, as he carved out nine birdies and nine pars to move within one stroke of Rodiles’s 14 under halfway lead.
Gee’s 63 included an eagle and seven birdies, a sensational effort that elevated him to 12 under for the tournament to join the outstanding young German Florian Fritsch, two off the pace and one behind Günther.
Rodiles, Gee and Günther produced a huge amount of quality golf between them, but none of the trio produced as perfect a pair of shots as Alex Haindl of Austria and Welshman Laskey who both aced the 224yd par-3 fourth hole.
Englishman John Parry occupies fifth spot on the leaderboard after a second round 65 took him to 11 under, one ahead of Boyd and Brier going into the weekend.
Brier was pleased with his work so far in a tournament that he has worked tirelessly to promote through his own foundation.
“So far, so good,” was the double European Tour champion’s verdict of his opening scores of 68-66. “I am pleased with how it’s going and how I am playing. It was good to make the cut and actually be in contention for the weekend because hopefully that will bring more focus on the tournament and what we are trying to do here.
“A lot of the young Austrian players are doing well and the more young guys we have playing over the weekend then the more of a success the tournament will be.”
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
130 C Rodiles (Spa) 65 65.
131 C Gunther (Ger) 68 63.
132 F Fritsch (Ger) 65 67, A Gee (Eng) 69 63.
133 J Parry (Eng) 68 65.
134 G Boyd (Eng) 68 66, M Brier (Aut) 68 66.
Selected scores:
137 G Shaw (NIr) 70 67 (jt 11th).
139 S Henry (Sco) 69 70 (jt 28th).
142 J McLeary (Sco) 75 67 (jt 55th).
MISSED THE CUT (142 or better)
144 L Saltman (Sco) 74 70.
145 E Ramsay (Sco) 77 68.
146 E Saltman (Sco) 73 73.
Labels: CHALLENGE TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, June 05, 2009
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