KELLETT TUMBLES OUT OF LEAD IN NORWEGIAN CHALLENGE

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Jens Fahrbring described it as the best round of his life as the Swede sank a hole in one en route to a course-record ten under par 62 and a one-shot lead at the Norwegian Challenge, having only just made the cut on the mark earlier in the day.

The second round resumed early on Saturday morning after an overnight suspension due to darkness and Fahrbring crept into the final two rounds after a level par second round 72 left him on three under, seven shots off the lead.

But the Swede, who was also in contention at last week’s Finnish Challenge, hit his stride from the off when he teed up in the afternoon. He holed a monster putt for eagle at the 11^th – his second – before carding seven birdies and an ace to move to 13 under, one clear of compatriot Pontus Widegren and Englishman Phillip Archer.

“Today was just crazy,” said the 29 year old. “I started by making a 50-foot putt on 11 and that was pretty much the first putt I made all week, and then I made a birdie at the next to keep it going.

“It’s hard to describe what even happened out there today, it was just a blur. I just got in the zone. I had some birdies going out and then carried that into the back nine with birdies on one, two and three.

“To ace it then at the eighth was just incredible. It was a perfect round for me – the best of my life. I didn’t see it up on the green on eight but there was someone up there shouting and screaming so I figured it must have gone in the hole. It was just that type of day for me.”

Fahrbring will have some familiar company in the final group at the Oslo venue, after his close friend and compatriot Widegren also had stunning finish to day three, carding an eagle at the 17^th and a birdie at the final hole for a four under 68 to move to within one shot of the lead on 12 under.

Widegren is another player with very little Challenge Tour experience having just turned professional in June, but he cannot wait to battle it out in the final group in just his fifth start on the Challenge Tour.

“I know Jens really well and we’re close friends because we’re both from Stockholm,” said the 22 year old, playing on an invite this week. “He’s a really nice guy and a pleasure to be around.

“It will be exciting. I saw his name on the leaderboard and figured he must have gone really low. I saw a bunch of people on 11 under so thought if I holed my birdie on the last we might play together and I did it, so that was nice.

Archer, meanwhile, is the only player in the final group who has been hugging the top of leaderboard since day one and his three under par 69, including two birdies to finish, meant he will play in the final three-ball.

Daniel Im carded seven birdies in a row on the way to an eight under par 64 as the American moved to tied fourth on 11 under par, alongsipde Spain’s Alvaro Velasco (68), who just missed out on this title last year, losing to Swede Kristoffer Broberg in a play-off.

For more, visit www.europeantour.com/challengetour

 

THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD

  par 216 (3x72)

203 J Fahrbring (Swe) 69 72 62,

204 P Widegren  (Swe) 70 66 68, P Archer (Eng) 64 71 69,

205 D Im (USA) 73 68 64, A Velasco (Esp) 72 65 68,

206 B Hebert  (Fra) 65 70 71, J Senior (Eng) 67 70 69, O Bekker (RSA) 69 69 68,

207 J Barnes (Eng) 65 70 72, M Ford (Eng) 71 67 69, K Borsheim  (Nor) 70 67 70, E Dubois (Fra) 70 68 69, S Arnold  (Aus) 71 67 69,

208 N Elvira  (Esp) 68 71 69, L Kennedy  (Eng) 70 66 72, J McLeary  (Sco) 74 67 67, A Engell  (Nor) 66 69 73, J Heath  (Eng) 68 70 70, T Sluiter  (Ned) 69 70 69, A McArthur  (Sco) 72 69 67, R Kakko  (Fin) 69 71 68, J Carlsson (Swe) 71 69 68,

209 R Kellett (Sco) 63 71 75, Å Nilsson (Swe) 70 71 68, E Johansen  (Nor) 70 67 72, J Mikkelsen (Nor) 68 72 69, T Hatton (Eng) 72 66 71, T Remkes (Ned) 68 73 68, G Shaw (Nir) 71 69 69, M Crespi  (Ita) 68 69 72,

210 D Perrier (Fra) 69 70 71, C Russo (Fra) 71 67 72, L Claverie (Esp) 70 70 70, D Vancsik (Arg) 69 71 70, N Ravano (Ita) 72 68 70, J Glennemo (Swe) 70 70 70,

211 C Kim (USA) 69 71 71, D Wuensche  (Ger) 73 67 71, F Calmels  (Fra) 70 69 72, P Relecom  (Bel) 70 70 71, P O'Keeffe  (Irl) 71 70 70,

212 A Otaegui  (Esp) 73 68 71, S Matus  (Cze) 71 70 71, L Goddard  (Eng) 72 69 71, N Lemke (Swe) 70 68 74, N Kearney (Irl) 72 69 71, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 68 71 73, D Stewart (Sco) 72 69 71, T Nørret (Den) 72 67 73, J Huldahl (Den) 72 68 72,

213 D Ulrich (Sui) 69 71 73, M Haastrup  (Den) 73 68 72, M Lampert (Ger) 71 70 72, M Glauert (Ger) 72 68 73, L Canter (Eng) 72 67 74, V Riu  (Fra) 70 71 72, P Maddy (Eng) 69 70 74, B Paolini (USA) 71 69 73, A Olsen (am) (Nor) 66 70 77,

214 A Saddier (Fra) 68 72 74, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 72 69 73,

215 P Martin Benavides (Esp) 73 67 75,

216 E Kofstad (Nor) 73 68 75,

 

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

CRAIGMILLAR PARK PRO DAY RESULTS

r. PRO DAY RESULTS Gents Prize Winners  WINNERS: M.McDougall, I.Boyle, C.Anderson & J.Tickle 52 2ND B.Davies, R.Barker, B.Davies Jnr & F. Gray 54 BIH 3RD T. Reilly, D. Sommerville, M. Donaldson B. Reilly 54 Last 6 Holes 4TH D. Bruce, J. McCann, T. Kowal & J. Walker 54 Ladies Prize Winners WINNERS K. Ballantyne, R. Wilkojc, M. Richardson & G. Glen 54 2nd A. Mackie, C Hair,J Flucker & D Heathwood 58 Junior Prize Winners Winners: G Weatherstone, M O'Toole, C O'Toole & A,Davidson 59 HOLE WINNERS 1ST N Dewar Dozen Lethal Balls 2ND J Young Titleist Pencil Bag 3RD G Glen Tigerlilly Voucher 4TH J Walker Dozen Bridgstone Balls 5TH Ali Mackie Pro Quip Windshirt 6TH B Reilly RL Polo Shirt 7TH P Lyle Mizuno Golf Bag 8TH Karen Ballantyne Golf Pride Voucher 9TH Ian Boyle Iomic Voucher 10TH Jane Flucker Dozen Pro V1 Balls 11TH Ian Boyle Le Monde Voucher 12TH Jim Halley Galvin Green Sweater 13TH Gordon Brunton Pro Quip Sweater 14TH Bryan Davies Jnr Peter Scott Sweater 15TH Alan Brown Titleist Pencil Bag 16TH Mike Ferguson Dozen Bridgestone Balls 17TH Keith Thorburn RL Polo Shirt 18TH Neil Brockie Dozen Pro V1 Balls Junior Hole:  Dougie Sommerville Hot Cup Prizes Iain Welsh Jim Walker Neil Brockie Bryan Davies Jnr Greenkeepers I'm sure you'd all agree the course has been in a fantastic condition all year round. Steve and his team outperform every year, thanks guys.  Sponsors For all who helped out with prizes and added to the day many thanks. See you all again over the coming weeks Scott Gourlay and team.

HUTCH RECORD 63 IN KIPPIE LODGE VICTORY

Banchory Golf Club tour professional Greig Hutcheon continued his rich seam of form to lower his own course record and win the top prize of £1,466 in the Kippie Lodge Sports Club pro-am at Peterculter Golf Club today (Saturday).
Hutcheon, recent winner of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA title, shot an eight-under-par 63 - one lower than the record he held jointly with Sam Cairns, which included nine birdies, five of them consecutively in an inward half of seven-under 28.
His figures were:
OUT - 4 5 3 3 5 4 4 3 4 - 35
 IN - 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 4 3 - 28
It was 43-year-old Greig's sixth win on the Tartan Tour this season and he has amassed £23,390 from 30 competitions. Three of his six wins have come over the last 11 days.
Hutch won by two shots from Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Stephen Gray (Hayston) who earned £1,026 apiece for their 65s

Andrew Munro (Musselburgh), one of the last players to finish, led the "Deeside Boys" to victory in the pro-am team event with a 22 under par total of 120. The amateurs were Connor Forbes (handicap 7), Ryan Clark (15) and Harry Howarth (10).

They relegated the long-time leaders, Scott Henderson and the Burness and Paul team, who had scored 19-under 123, to second place.

LEADING SCORES
Par 71
63 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) (£1,466).
65 Chris Kelly (Cawder), Stephen Gray (Hayston) (£1,026 each).
67 Greg McBain (Gamola Golf), Christopher Currie (Caldwell), Pul McKiechnie (Braid Hills) (£542 each).
68 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) (£381).
69 Christopher McMaster (Panmure), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Graeme Fox (Clydeway Golf) (£283 each).
70 Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links), Dean Vannet (Peterculter) (£212 each).
71 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) (£190).
72 James McGhee (unatt), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Paul Robinson (Largs) (£161 each).
73 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Calum Lawson (Wellsgreen), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC), Christopher Russell (RAW golf course design), Andrew Munro (Musselburgh) (£58 each).
74 Grant Smith (Gleneagles Hotel).
75 Ross McConnachie (Peterculter), Alan Duncan (unatt)
76 Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy).
77 Mark King (Kingsfield)
79 Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen)
80 Keil Beveridge (Kippie Lodge)
81 Fraser Clarke (Newmachar)
83 Graeme Nethercott (Deeside), Michael Mackenzie (Edzell).

ENGLISHMAN WINS EUROPEAN TITLE, ROSS JUST OUTSIDE TOP 10

England's Ashley Chesters, 24-year-old Hawkstone Park GC member, has surely booked himself a place in the GB and I team for next month's Walker Cup match by winning the European men's individual amateur championship at El Prat Golf Club, Spain on Saturday.
Chesters, who had opened with a 73, took the lead with a second-round, seven-under-par 65. He added a third-round 70 to be clear of the field going into the final round but suffered a late "wobble," allowing Spaniard David Morago to close the gap.
Eventually Chesters had to birdie the 18th hole for a closing 76 for a four-under total of 284 and a one-stroke win after having a double bogey at the 10th and dropping shots at the 16th and 17th.
Chesters, ranked No 31 in Europe before this tournament, won from two Spaniards - David Morago on 285 and Scott William Fernandez (286) who sounds as though he has British blood in his veins.
Another Englishman in the squad for the match against the Americans at the National Golf Links, New York on September 8 is likely to be Jamie Rutherford who tied for fourth place on 289 (71-73-71-74).
James Ross (Royal Burgess) was the top Scot in joint 11th place on six-over 294, a closing round of 77 after scores of 74, 69 and 74 knocking him down out of the final top 10.
Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) finished joint 21st on 297 with scores of 71-74-77-75 and Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) was a shot behind in a share of 24th place with scores of 75, 75, 72 and 76.
Liam Johnston (Southerness), the only other Scot to survive the third-round cut, finished joint 50th on 302 with rounds of 76, 74, 74 and 78.

EUROPEAN MEN'S INDIVIDUAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
El Prat Golf Club, Spain
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
284 Ashley Chesters (Eng) 73 65 70 76
285 David Morago (Spa) 75 68 69 73
286 Scott William Fernandez (Spa) 70 71 71 74
289 Jamie Rutherford (Eng) 71 73 71 74, Thomas Detry (Bel) 72 71 78 68
291 Benjamin Rusch (Swi) 73 71 72 75
292 Paul Dunne (Ire) 74 74 73 71, Gavin Moynihan (Ire) 72 74 68 78, Dermot McElroy (Ire) 75 70 74 73
293 Ivan Cantero (Spa) 73 77 71 72
294 Kevin Phelan (Ire) 75 73 73 73, Joao Carlota (Spa) 72 74 74 74, James Ross (Royal Burgess) 74 69 74 77 (T11).
OTHER SCOTS SCORES
297 Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) 71 74 77 75 (T21)
298 Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie)75 75 72 76 (T24)
302 Liam Johnston (Southerness) 76 74 74 78 (T50)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES 

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LEVEN GOLD MEDAL FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

LEVEN LINKS
Par 71 CSS 73
Brian Soutar 67 (Leven GS)
Jordan Milne  67 (Elgin)
Jamie Savage  68 (Cawder)
Lawrence Allan  69 (Alva)
Graham Robertson 69 (Silverknowes)
Steven Smith 69 Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club
Stuart Hill  70 Leven Thistle Golf Club
Alex Moir  70 Thornton Golf Club
John Douglas 70 Aberdour G.C.
Kyle Godsman  71 Moray#
Lewis Bain 71 Turnhouse Golf Club Ltd
Adam Dunton (v) 71 McDonald Golf Club
Charlie MacNeal (v) 71 Prestwick Golf Club
Allan Watson (v) 72 Braehead Golf Club
James Hendrick (v) 72 Pollok Golf Club
Dan Lawrence (v) 72 Ballumbie Castle Golf Club
Kyle McClung (v) 72 Wigtownshire County Golf Club
Kevin Duncan (v) 72 Cruden Bay Golf Club
Paul Ratcliffe (v) 73 Thornton Golf Club
Angus Carrick 73 Douglas Park Golf Club
Ewan MacGregor 73 (Leven GS)
James White 73 Lundin
Kenneth MacAskill 73 Turnberry Hotel staff 
Craig Howie  73 Peebles
Steven Rennie  73 Drumpellier
John Duff 73 Newmachar
Craig Wallace (v) 73 Balbirnie Park
Daniel Kay (v) 73 Dunbar
Murray Naysmith (v) 74 Marriott Dalmahoy
Gordon Stevenson (v) 74 Whitecraigs Golf Club
Mr David Paterson 74
Ryan Campbell (v) 74 Falkirk Golf Club
Ross Bell (v) 74 Downfield Golf Club
Paul Reilly (v) 74 Kilmacolm Golf Club
Fraser Moore (v) 74 Glenbervie Golf Club
Liam Balneaves (v) 74 Greenacres C Club (New Zealand
Kevin Blyth (v) 74 Lundin Golf Club
Mark Anderson (v) 74 Leven Thistle Golf Club
Joshua Jamieson (v) 74 New Golf Club
Conor O'Neil (v) 74 Pollok Golf Club
Ryan White 74 Leven Golfing Society
Jeff Wright (v) 75 Forres Golf Club
Alister Hain (v) 75 St Andrews Golf Club
Nicholas Peoples (v) 75 Tantallon Golf Club
Jordan Shaw (v) 75 Boat of Garten Golf Club
Gordon Miller (v) 75 Cawder Golf Club
Anthony Blaney (v) 75 Liberton Golf Club
Lyle McAlpine (v) 75 Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Greg Forrester (v) 75 Lundin Golf Club
Michael Daily (v) 75 Erskine Golf Club
Jack Harling (v) 75 Banchory Golf Club
Jamie Lamb (v) 76 Lanark Golf Club
Garry McLetchie 76
Michael Smyth (v) 76 Royal Troon Golf Club
Andrew Davidson (v) 76 Charleton Golf & Country Club
Chris Low (v) 76 Tantallon Golf Club
Jake Hogg (v) 76 New Golf Club St Andrews
Calum McAndrew (v) 77 Leven Thistle Golf Club
Craig Chalmers (v) 77 Cawder Golf Club
David Mitchell (v) 77 Leven Thistle Golf Club
Craig Deerness (v) 77 Harburn Golf Club
Calum Hill (v) 77 Muckhart Golf Club
Alan Sutherland (v) 77 Ladybank Golf Club
Corin Stewart (v) 78 Murcar Golf Club
Malcolm Pennycott (v) 78 Whiting Bay Golf Club
Greg Miller (v) 79 Bathgate Golf Club
Edward Shannly (v) 79 Linlithgow Golf Club
David Oldham (v) 81 Crail G S - Balcolmie
Alasdair McDougall (v) 81 St Andrews New
James Aitken (v) 82 Alloa Golf Club
Ryan Walsh (v) 83 Kirkcaldy Golf Club
Andrew Collier 86 Balbirnie Park Golf Club

ROSS KELLETT LEADS BY ONE AT HALFWAY

Round Two concluded today after an overnight delay due to darkness. Round Three teed off at 13:35 local time. A Third Round report will appear on this website Saturday evening.

 

 

                           

 

For reports and updates, visit www.europeantour.com/challengetour

 

SECOND ROUND TOTALS

134 R Kellett (Sco) 63 71,

135 A Engell  (Nor) 66 69, B Hebert  (Fra) 65 70, P Archer (Eng) 64 71, J Barnes (Eng) 65 70,

136 P Widegren  (Swe) 70 66, L Kennedy  (Eng) 70 66, A Olsen (am) (Nor) 66 70,

137 K Borsheim  (Nor) 70 67, E Johansen  (Nor) 70 67, A Velasco (Esp) 72 65, J Senior (Eng) 67 70, M Crespi  (Ita) 68 69,

138 E Dubois (Fra) 70 68, S Arnold  (Aus) 71 67, M Ford (Eng) 71 67, O Bekker (RSA) 69 69, C Russo (Fra) 71 67, N Lemke (Swe) 70 68, J Heath  (Eng) 68 70, T Hatton (Eng) 72 66,

139 F Calmels  (Fra) 70 69, T Sluiter  (Ned) 69 70, L Canter (Eng) 72 67, N Elvira  (Esp) 68 71, D Perrier (Fra) 69 70, P Maddy (Eng) 69 70, T Nørret (Den) 72 67, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 68 71,

140 R Kakko  (Fin) 69 71, C Kim (USA) 69 71, J Huldahl (Den) 72 68, M Glauert (Ger) 72 68, D Vancsik (Arg) 69 71, G Shaw (Nir) 71 69, J Glennemo (Swe) 70 70, J Mikkelsen (Nor) 68 72, N Ravano (Ita) 72 68, B Paolini (USA) 71 69, P Martin Benavides (Esp) 73 67, J Carlsson (Swe) 71 69, A Saddier (Fra) 68 72, D Wuensche  (Ger) 73 67, L Claverie (Esp) 70 70, P Relecom  (Bel) 70 70, D Ulrich (Sui) 69 71,

141 Å Nilsson (Swe) 70 71, V Riu  (Fra) 70 71, S Matus  (Cze) 71 70, J Fahrbring (Swe) 69 72, D Stewart (Sco) 72 69, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 72 69, A McArthur  (Sco) 72 69, P O'Keeffe  (Irl) 71 70, L Goddard  (Eng) 72 69, M Haastrup  (Den) 73 68, N Kearney (Irl) 72 69, M Lampert (Ger) 71 70, T Remkes (Ned) 68 73, J McLeary  (Sco) 74 67, A Otaegui  (Esp) 73 68, E Kofstad (Nor) 73 68, D Im (USA) 73 68,

 

MISSED THE CUT

 

142 T Fournier  (Fra) 71 71, E Bertheussen (Nor) 71 71, C Aguilar  (Esp) 71 71, M Novy  (Cze) 71 71, S Tiley (Eng) 72 70, D Griffiths  (Eng) 72 70, A Forsyth (Sco) 70 72, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 73, J Doherty  (Sco) 75 67, W Booth  (Sco) 68 74, A Bernadet  (Fra) 72 70, A Ahokas (Fin) 71 71, A Dunbar (Nir) 69 73, M Brier (Aut) 73 69, A Halvorsen (am) (Nor) 75 67,

143 S Hutsby  (Eng) 70 73, B Chapellan (Fra) 72 71, B Stone (RSA) 72 71,

144 C Aronsen  (Nor) 73 71, S Hansen (Nor) 72 72, H Porteous (RSA) 72 72, W Besseling  (Ned) 70 74, B Parker  (Eng) 75 69, A Johnston (Eng) 73 71, I Korvenmaa (Fin) 71 73, P Edberg (Swe) 69 75, J Moul  (Eng) 73 71, N Floren (Swe) 70 74,

145 C Hanson (Eng) 69 76, F Svanberg  (Sui) 72 73, J Jeong (Kor) 74 71, P Nilbrink (Nor) 73 72, T Murray (Eng) 69 76, J Howarth (Eng) 70 75, A Bossert (Sui) 70 75, P Kaensche  (Nor) 72 73,

146 N Dougherty  (Eng) 70 76, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 76 70, G Houston (Wal) 72 74, N Quintarelli (Ita) 71 75, G Murray  (Sco) 74 72, B Etchart  (Esp) 75 71,

147 D Brooks (Eng) 71 76, G Cambis  (Fra) 69 78, G Gilligan (Eng) 72 75, S Manley (Wal) 77 70, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 75 72, S Benson (Eng) 69 78, M Jonzon (Swe) 75 72, A Pavan (Ita) 78 69, S Piaget  (Mon) 75 72, T Pieters  (Bel) 78 69, R Gruber (Aut) 75 72, K Ventura (am) (Nor) 75 72,

148 A Perrino  (Ita) 71 77, F Praegant (Aut) 71 77, A Hortal  (Esp) 75 73, D Frittelli (RSA) 73 75, B Ritthammer (Ger) 74 74,

149 D Geminiani (Ita) 72 77, F Colombo (Ita) 74 75, C Pigem (Esp) 73 76, H Joannes  (Bel) 75 74, M Trappel  (Aut) 76 73,

150 R Saxton (Ned) 77 73, N Meitinger  (Ger) 76 74, R Robertson (Nor) 73 77, A Sobstad (am) (Nor) 77 73,

151 J Gibb (Eng) 70 81, F De Vries  (Ned) 73 78, T Pulkkanen  (Fin) 78 73, K Johannessen (am) (Nor) 78 73,

152 L Richard (Bel) 76 76, O Rozner  (Fra) 77 75, D Palm (Swe) 76 76,

153 B Christov (Nor) 79 74, J Abbott (Eng) 79 74, J Timmis (Eng) 71 82, S Whiffin (Eng) 79 74, C Ford (Eng) 76 77,

154 O Ramsnes (am) (Nor) 82 72,

156 F McGuirk  (Eng) 75 81,

159 A Rajmont (am) (Cze) 81 78,

** C Brazillier  (Fra) 82 RT, J Dantorp (Swe) 72 RT, M Haines  (Eng) 83 RT, M Nichols (Eng) 76 RT, Y Kafelnikov (Rus) 86 RT, H Bacher (Aut) 74 RT, J Mommo  (Fin) 78 RT, P Oriol (Esp) 72 RT, L Saltman (Sco) 78 WD, P Dwyer (Eng) RT  0,

 

 

DUFNER LEADS US PGA BY TWO AT HALFWAY AFTER RECORD 63

FROM THE BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE

Jason Dufner just missed out on the lowest round in major history but hit a course-record 63 to grab a two-shot halfway lead in the US PGA Championship

The American, 36, was short with his 12ft birdie putt for a 62 but ended nine under par to take control of the year's final major at Oak Hill.
The 2011 runner-up led Adam Scott (68), Matt Kuchar (66) and Jim Furyk (68).
US Open champion Justin Rose shot 66 to end six under but Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy endured difficult days.
World number one Woods was unable to recreate the spark that yielded a fifth title of the year on Sunday and hit a level-par 70 to end one over.
Defending champion McIlroy was in danger of missing a second straight cut at a major after slipping to four over for the tournament through 10 holes during the worst of a morning deluge. But the 24-year-old fought back well with four birdies in his last seven holes for a 71 and level par.
Lee Westwood, who was tied second overnight, also dropped back with a three-over 73 to leave him one under.

Analysis

Iain Carter BBC golf correspondent

Oak Hill was rendered defenceless by the heavy rains that fell throughout the morning. There has been little wind and what should have been a formidable test provided target golf for any player capable of consistently finding fairways. Dufner possesses one of the game's sweetest swings and looks a major champion in waiting. The 36-year-old was tentative in his bid for history at the final hole. A bolder approach over the weekend may yield the title he should have won two years ago. On that occasion he surrendered a five stroke lead down the stretch before losing a play-off to Keegan Bradley.

But the day belonged to Dufner, still chasing a maiden major after several recent near misses, who made the most of a favourable draw and went out in warm afternoon sunshine on a course softened by its earlier soaking.

The fireworks began when his approach to the second span back 20ft and dropped into the hole for an eagle. He made a long birdie putt on the fourth green, picked up another shot at the fifth and holed a lengthy putt to save par on the seventh to go out in 31.
Turning for home, the laconic two-time PGA Tour winner made further birdies at 11, 13 and 16 before firing a pin-point approach into the 18th green, only to leave his history-making putt short.
"It's tough," said Dufner, who became the 24th player to shoot 63 at a major. "I showed a little bit of nerves there leaving it short. It's one you would like to gun and have a chance at history (but) I am in pretty good company.
"The history of the game is something that is dear to my heart. To be part of history is a neat accomplishment, I never thought a guy from north east Ohio would be able to do these things."
But Dufner's was not the only round close to the history books.

American Webb Simpson was on course for an early 62 but faltered late on to equal the then course record of 64, set by Ben Hogan in 1942 and then again by Curtis Strange in 1989. The former US Open champion ended four under alongside 2010 US PGA winner Martin Kaymer (68) and American Charley Hoffman (67).

While others were making hay, Woods mixed four birdies with four bogeys and cut a frustrated figure as he chases an elusive 15th major and first since 2008.
"Obviously I'm going to have to put together a really good weekend," Woods said. "I'm going to have to do my job and shoot a good round but then again, I'm so far back that if the leaders go ahead and run off with it and shoot a low one I'm going to be pretty far behind."
Scott, who made his major breakthrough at the Masters in April, continued the form that saw him lead late on during the Open last month and set the clubhouse target at seven under at Oak Hill, dubbed "Soak Hill" after the torrential morning rains.
"I think the platform has never been better for me to go on and win multiple majors," said Scott. "I guess you've got to take the confidence and form of winning a major and run with it. I can't take my foot off the gas just because I achieved something great at Augusta."
Scott's playing partner Rose, who is also targeting a second major of the season after winning his first at Merion in June, fired a stunning homeward nine of 29 for his 66.
"It's wonderful to be in this situation right now, talking about having done it, talking about feeling like you can win more, believing in yourself and not talking about how I hope it could happen this week. So I think that alone makes it easier," he said.
Only Gene Sarazen (1922), Ben Hogan (1948), Jack Nicklaus (1980) and Tiger Woods (2000) have won the US Open and US PGA in the same year, while Nicklaus was also the last man, in 1975, to win the Masters and US PGA in the same season.
Open champion Phil Mickelson, playing with Scott and Rose, signed for a second 71 to end two over, just inside the three-over cut mark which claimed Luke Donald, Martin Laird, Paul Lawrie, Bubba Watson, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington. 

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McILROY SHOWS HE'S MADE OF THE RIGHT STUFF

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
When you are the defending champion and won 12 months ago by eight strokes you would not normally be happy with lying seven shots off the pace as Rory McIlroy was here at the US PGA on Friday.

But then, it has been anything but a normal year for the young Ulsterman. He has signed a £78 million deal with Nike, picked up a few more million pound endorsements and cemented his relationship with the tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.

Where did it all go wrong, Rory? Answer: inside the ropes and around his backroom.

He has left his management company and suffered a winless, woeful season.

McIlroy missed the cut at last month’s Open and after 11 holes of his second round seemed destined to miss another. He was four over, having dropped five shots and the promise of an opening 69 appeared nothing but false hope. Quite simply, the narrative had to change.

It did. First the rain which pounded Oak Hill for the first four hours suddenly relented. And then McIlroy began to shine. Four birdies in the last seven holes for a 71 and McIlroy had not only played himself into the weekend, but in his own mind, back into the tournament on level par.

“It did turn around when the weather turned around,” he said. “It feels good to play in like that when I knew that I had to. All I was telling myself was to be positive, that it was all about attitude. In the same position a few months ago, I wouldn’t be here – I would be on my way home.”
McIlroy is nothing if not honest. He recognised his error of quitting mid-round when in a forlorn position at the Honda Class in Palm Beach in March. McIlroy let himself down on that occasion, but yesterday he was a credit to the game. He dug deep and hauled himself out a hole.
“When I was four over after the second [his 11th] my aim was to get to par,” he said. “It gives me confidence and momentum to have succeeded with that. I started to drive the ball well and that’s what you need to do around here. If I can get off to a fast start tomorrow, I’ll be right there.”
On the evidence of two rounds here, the 24-year-old will march back into red figures. He is a collective six under for the opening nine. The problem is he is obviously a collective six over for the back nine.
There were reasons for that on Friday. “The ball was going nowhere and I wasn’t driving that well,” he said. “You can’t play this course from the rough.”
From the short cut he appeared his wonderfully rhythmic self. On the third (his 12th) he struck a three iron to six feet. On the par-five fourth he hit a driver and three wood close to the green and got up and down.
On the seventh he holed a 40-footer from off the green. On the eighth he hit a driver and wedge to three feet. The bounce was in his step again. Who knows where it could carry him.

LONG DAY BUT KELLETT RESPONDS TO NORWEGIAN CHALLENGE

                           

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Ross Kellett (picture above by courtesy of Getty Images (c)will be hoping to take inspiration from his room-mate Stuart Manley, winner last week on the European Challenge Tour, after the Motherwell man's  one under par 71 handed him the lead at the Norwegian Challenge before round two was suspended due to darkness.

Following heavy rain and flooding on the opening day at Losby Golf Club, near Oslo, the first round resumed early on day two before the second round teed off in the afternoon, meaning Kellett was forced to play 36 holes in one day with just a 25 minute break in between.

It was a long but successful day for the 25 year old, who has missed the cut in his last five appearances on the Challenge Tour, as he turned his fortunes around with the best round of his professional career early in the day, a nine under 63 which earned him the first round lead.

And he held on to that lead after starting strongly with a two under par front nine in the afternoon, before struggling with tiredness and headaches on the way back. But he battled to a one over back nine and a one under round to take a one-shot lead on ten under par.

“I was actually feeling quite poorly on the way in so I was happy to just get in under par for the second round after such a good start,” said the Motherwell man, who was second reserve for the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team at Royal Aberdeen in 2011.

“To follow that first round with another under par one is all I wanted. I definitely felt tired towards the end. I'm not used to playing 36 holes now, but I played it every weekend as an amateur and I suppose that stood me in good stead.”

Kellett admits it is a totally new experience for him leading going into the weekend on the Challenge Tour, where his best finish is tied 26^th at the Scottish Hydro Challenge as an amateur five years ago, but he won on the satellite Alps Tour last season and is looking forward to chasing another professional victory.

“It’s certainly different for me leading on the Challenge Tour,” he said. “It’s a new experience but I suppose this is the reason we play this game and practise and if I don’t put myself in these positions then I’ll never know how to deal with it. It’s where I want to be.”

Kellett is sharing a room with Manley this week, who claimed a maiden victory at the Finnish Challenge last week, and said it was nice to feel the positive vibes from the Welshman.

“He came in whistling all day at the start of the week so it was good to see,” said Kellett. “Hopefully I can do what he did but I don’t want to get ahead of myself either.”

With the second round suspended overnight and only a few of the afternoon groups through nine holes, the cut is likely to fall around midday Saturday - weather depending - before the third round tees off in the afternoon in a U-draw format.

The two closest men to Kellett, Englishmen Phillip Archer (71) and Jason Barnes (70), are both in the clubhouse on nine under par while Eirik Tige Johansen (67) is leading Norwegian in the clubhouse, three shots off the pace on seven under par.

Alongside him are Italian Marco Crespi (69), a winner on the Challenge Tour already this year, and England’s Jack Senior (70), while Oslo man Anders Engell is on seven under par having negotiated the opening five holes of his second round in one under and Benjamin Hebert is level through eight holes having opened with a seven under par first round.or reports and updates, visit www.europeantour.com/challengetour

 

Scores:

 

63 R Kellett (Sco) ,

64 P Archer (Eng) ,

65 B Hebert  (Fra) , J Barnes (Eng) ,

66 A Engell  (Nor) , A Olsen (am) (Nor) ,

67 J Senior (Eng) ,

68 A Saddier (Fra) , J Mikkelsen (Nor) , N Elvira  (Esp) , T Remkes (Ned) , J Heath  (Eng) , M Crespi  (Ita) , L Bjerregaard  (Den) , W Booth  (Sco) ,

69 S Benson (Eng) , G Cambis  (Fra) , T Murray (Eng) , P Edberg (Swe) , P Maddy (Eng) , J Fahrbring (Swe) , D Ulrich (Sui) , R Kakko  (Fin) , C Kim (USA) , T Sluiter  (Ned) , T Pilkadaris (Aus) , D Vancsik (Arg) , O Bekker (RSA) , A Dunbar (Nir) , C Hanson (Eng) , D Perrier (Fra) ,

70 V Riu  (Fra) , N Dougherty  (Eng) , A Forsyth (Sco) , A Bossert (Sui) , P Relecom  (Bel) , E Dubois (Fra) , F Calmels  (Fra) , K Borsheim  (Nor) , P Widegren  (Swe) , L Kennedy  (Eng) , N Lemke (Swe) , S Hutsby  (Eng) , L Claverie (Esp) , J Glennemo (Swe) , Å Nilsson (Swe) , W Besseling  (Ned) , N Floren (Swe) , J Gibb (Eng) , E Johansen  (Nor) , J Howarth (Eng) ,

71 C Aguilar  (Esp) , I Korvenmaa (Fin) , T Fournier  (Fra) , G Shaw (Nir) , J Carlsson (Swe) , M Ford (Eng) , S Arnold  (Aus) , S Matus  (Cze) , A Perrino  (Ita) , E Bertheussen (Nor) , B Paolini (USA) , C Russo (Fra) , A Ahokas (Fin) , N Quintarelli (Ita) , P O'Keeffe  (Irl) , M Lampert (Ger) , F Praegant (Aut) , J Timmis (Eng) , M Novy  (Cze) , D Brooks (Eng) ,

72 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , L Canter (Eng) , S Hansen (Nor) , J Dantorp (Swe) , N Ravano (Ita) , A Velasco (Esp) , T Nørret (Den) , G Houston (Wal) , M Glauert (Ger) , D Geminiani (Ita) , G Gilligan (Eng) , A McArthur  (Sco) , T Hatton (Eng) , P Oriol (Esp) , A Bernadet  (Fra) , D Griffiths  (Eng) , D Stewart (Sco) , B Stone (RSA) , F Svanberg  (Sui) , N Kearney (Irl) , J Huldahl (Den) , B Chapellan (Fra) , L Goddard  (Eng) , P Kaensche  (Nor) , S Tiley (Eng) , H Porteous (RSA) ,

73 P Nilbrink (Nor) , F De Vries  (Ned) , E Kofstad (Nor) , A Johnston (Eng) , M Haastrup  (Den) , D Frittelli (RSA) , J Moul  (Eng) , A Otaegui  (Esp) , M Brier (Aut) , C Pigem (Esp) , D Im (USA) , D Wuensche  (Ger) , C Aronsen  (Nor) , R Robertson (Nor) , P Martin Benavides (Esp) ,

74 J McLeary  (Sco) , H Bacher (Aut) , F Colombo (Ita) , J Jeong (Kor) , G Murray  (Sco) , B Ritthammer (Ger) ,

75 S Piaget  (Mon) , J Lando Casanova  (Fra) , A Hortal  (Esp) , H Joannes  (Bel) , M Jonzon (Swe) , R Gruber (Aut) , F McGuirk  (Eng) , B Parker  (Eng) , B Etchart  (Esp) , J Doherty  (Sco) , A Halvorsen (am) (Nor) , K Ventura (am) (Nor) ,

76 M Trappel  (Aut) , N Meitinger  (Ger) , D Palm (Swe) , R Dinwiddie  (Eng) , L Richard (Bel) , C Ford (Eng) , M Nichols (Eng) ,

77 R Saxton (Ned) , O Rozner  (Fra) , S Manley (Wal) , A Sobstad (am) (Nor) ,

78 L Saltman (Sco) , J Mommo  (Fin) , T Pulkkanen  (Fin) , A Pavan (Ita) , T Pieters  (Bel) , K Johannessen (am) (Nor) ,

79 J Abbott (Eng) , S Whiffin (Eng) , B Christov (Nor) ,

81 A Rajmont (am) (Cze) ,

82 C Brazillier  (Fra) , O Ramsnes (am) (Nor) ,

83 M Haines  (Eng) ,

86 Y Kafelnikov (Rus) ,

** P Dwyer (Eng) ,

 

For more, visit www.europeantour.com/challengetour