Friday, December 05, 2014

NEDBANK CHALLENGE IN SOUTH AFRICA

    
LUKE DONALD'S 63 DAZZLES AT SUN 


CITY - LEADS BY 2 FROM ROSS FISHER
   

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Englishman Luke Donald, pictured below, soared to the top of the leaderboard at the Nedbank Golf Challenge with a sublime, course record-equalling, nine under par 63 in the second round at Gary Player Country Club, Sun City in South Africa.
The 34 year old’s flawless display was reminiscent of his halcyon days of 2011, when he reached the position of World Number One, and at ten under par 134 he leads by two shots from compatriot and first round leader Ross Fisher (68).

Another two strokes back is Frenchman Alexander Levy (70), and in fourth place is another Englishman, Danny Willett (68).
Donald enjoyed a superb front nine, carding six birdies, and picked up three more shots on the way in to equal the course record, despite being taken by surprise by a charging baboon on the 13th hole.
Quotes

Luke Donald
“It's been a while since I've gone really low. I've been seeing some signs of a lot of improvement in the last few weeks and some lower rounds in the mid to high 60s, but obviously nine birdies around this place is a great round and something I was very pleased with. I felt very in control. It's been a while since I felt like that. “Everything starts for me when I can feel like I can drive it in the fairway and then give myself some opportunities, and obviously when the putter is warm, it's always one of my best weapons in the bag.
“We were walking up 13 and saw a baboon hiding in the tree. I got to my ball and suddenly Shane (Lowry) said, ‘Watch out!’  I turned around and the thing is galloping towards me. I jumped out of the way.  My facial expression I'm sure was caught on camera and is probably on the Internet already by now.  It gave me a little bit of a fright.”
Ross Fisher
“I don't feel I played as solidly as yesterday. I didn't hit it as well off the tee. It would have been nice to have picked up a couple coming in, but six under yesterday and two under today, it's moving in the right direction and I'm only two shots behind with two rounds to go. Yesterday we read the greens really well but today we over-read them. I had seven or eight putts that I hit exactly where I wanted to, but I over-read the borrow. Hopefully tomorrow they will go in again.”
Alexander Levy
“I'm happy because it wasn’t my best golf but I managed well. It's always good to shoot 70 on this golf course, as it’s very difficult. Tomorrow I’ll be playing in the final group so it’s nice to finish the year like this and I’m very happy to be in this position for the weekend.”

SCOTSWATCH:  Stephen Gallacher is tied for 13th place on 143 - nine off the pace - with scores of 70 and 73. Marc Warren is in 23rd place with rounds of 75 and 73 for 148.

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 144 (2x72)
134 L Donald  (Eng) 71 63,
136 R Fisher (Eng) 66 70,
138 A Levy (Fra) 68 70
139 D Willett  (Eng) 71 68
140 M Siem  (Ger) 68 72
141 C Schwartzel  (RSA) 70 71, T Clark (RSA) 70 71, T Jaidee (Tha) 71 70, B Todd (USA) 73 68, T Fleetwood (Eng) 74 67
142 L Westwood (Eng) 72 70, G Coetzee (RSA) 68 74
143 S Gallacher (Sco) 70 73, L Oosthuizen  (RSA) 70 73
144 M Jiménez (Esp) 70 74, S Lowry  (Irl) 72 72, J Blixt  (Swe) 71 73, B Koepka  (USA) 70 74, P Larrazábal (Esp) 73 71
145 K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 72 73, D Van Der Walt (RSA) 73 72,
146 J Luiten (Ned) 72 74,
148 M Warren (Sco) 75 73,
149 M Kaymer (Ger) 74 75, J Ahlers (RSA) 74 75,
150 K Na (USA) 77 73,
152 T Bjørn (Den) 80 72,
154 M Ilonen  (Fin) 76 78,
155 D Van Tonder  (RSA) 77 78

Withdrew: J Donaldson (Wal) 74 wd

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