McILROY SHARING SECOND PLACE, SCOTT IMPROVES
Chalmers breaks into the lead with late birdie
West Australian Greg Chalmers will take a one shot lead into
the weekend of the Emirates Australian Open being played at The Australian Golf
Club.
It
was a congested leaderboard toward the end of the second round but a
birdie on the 18th hole pushed Chalmers clear into the lead.Starting the day at even par, Chalmers fired a 5-under 66 to earn his place at the top of the leaderboard.
"I felt really good about what I'd been trying to do and how I struck my irons compared to yesterday," said Chalmers.
"I did some hard work yesterday afternoon and this morning and that gave me a lot of confidence."
"I felt like I had a nice rhythm to my swing after that, and it was just a case of maintaining that and seeing if I could get some good results out of it."
Chalmers has maintained a gruelling schedule having been to five countries since playing the ISPS HANDA Perth International in October.
"I don't feel jet lagged, it's just my sixth event in a row and I'm trying to converse my energy," added Chalmers.
"Ironically, the more birdies I make, it seems to be the more energy I have, so that's always a good thing."
Chalmers is a two time champion at the Emirates Australian Open but World Number 1 Rory McIlroy lurking just one shot behind.
"I think it's very early to be talking about winning given who's right behind me and who's playing very well, very early to be thinking about what's going to happen on Sunday night."
McIlroy had a mixed round, with just one par on the back nine to finish at 2-under 69 for a two round total of 4-under the card.
"I felt like I had an opportunity today to maybe shoot a good one and put a little bit of space between myself and the rest of the field but it didn't really pan out that way," said McIlroy.
"I had six birdies and an eagle today. You eliminate the bad stuff and the bogeys and all of a sudden you turn that into a low score."
"I was happy with how I finished obviously, I was 4-under for the last five holes and came back well and still in a good position going into tomorrow."
Joining McIlroy tied second on the leaderboard are Adam Crawford (NSW), Todd Sinnott (am)(VIC) and Conrad Shindler (USA).
Overnight leader Jordan Spieth had 1-over 72 today and is tied 6th on 3-under the card with Brett Rumford and Geoff Drakeford who is making his Professional debut this week after Monday qualifying for the tournament.
Rounding out the top-10 on 2-under the card are six players including World Number 3 Adam Scott.
Chalmers breaks into the lead with late birdie
West Australian Greg Chalmers will take a one shot lead into
the weekend of the Emirates Australian Open being played at The Australian Golf
Club.
It
was a congested leaderboard toward the end of the second round but a
birdie on the 18th hole pushed Chalmers clear into the lead.Starting the day at even par, Chalmers fired a 5-under 66 to earn his place at the top of the leaderboard.
"I felt really good about what I'd been trying to do and how I struck my irons compared to yesterday," said Chalmers.
"I did some hard work yesterday afternoon and this morning and that gave me a lot of confidence."
"I felt like I had a nice rhythm to my swing after that, and it was just a case of maintaining that and seeing if I could get some good results out of it."
Chalmers has maintained a gruelling schedule having been to five countries since playing the ISPS HANDA Perth International in October.
"I don't feel jet lagged, it's just my sixth event in a row and I'm trying to converse my energy," added Chalmers.
"Ironically, the more birdies I make, it seems to be the more energy I have, so that's always a good thing."
Chalmers is a two time champion at the Emirates Australian Open but World Number 1 Rory McIlroy lurking just one shot behind.
"I think it's very early to be talking about winning given who's right behind me and who's playing very well, very early to be thinking about what's going to happen on Sunday night."
McIlroy had a mixed round, with just one par on the back nine to finish at 2-under 69 for a two round total of 4-under the card.
"I felt like I had an opportunity today to maybe shoot a good one and put a little bit of space between myself and the rest of the field but it didn't really pan out that way," said McIlroy.
"I had six birdies and an eagle today. You eliminate the bad stuff and the bogeys and all of a sudden you turn that into a low score."
"I was happy with how I finished obviously, I was 4-under for the last five holes and came back well and still in a good position going into tomorrow."
Joining McIlroy tied second on the leaderboard are Adam Crawford (NSW), Todd Sinnott (am)(VIC) and Conrad Shindler (USA).
Overnight leader Jordan Spieth had 1-over 72 today and is tied 6th on 3-under the card with Brett Rumford and Geoff Drakeford who is making his Professional debut this week after Monday qualifying for the tournament.
Rounding out the top-10 on 2-under the card are six players including World Number 3 Adam Scott.
FROM ESPN.COM
Chalmers breaks into the lead with late birdie
West Australian Greg Chalmers will take a one shot lead into
the weekend of the Emirates Australian Open being played at The Australian Golf
Club.
It
was a congested leaderboard toward the end of the second round but a
birdie on the 18th hole pushed Chalmers clear into the lead.Starting the day at even par, Chalmers fired a 5-under 66 to earn his place at the top of the leaderboard.
"I felt really good about what I'd been trying to do and how I struck my irons compared to yesterday," said Chalmers.
"I did some hard work yesterday afternoon and this morning and that gave me a lot of confidence."
"I felt like I had a nice rhythm to my swing after that, and it was just a case of maintaining that and seeing if I could get some good results out of it."
Chalmers has maintained a gruelling schedule having been to five countries since playing the ISPS HANDA Perth International in October.
"I don't feel jet lagged, it's just my sixth event in a row and I'm trying to converse my energy," added Chalmers.
"Ironically, the more birdies I make, it seems to be the more energy I have, so that's always a good thing."
Chalmers is a two time champion at the Emirates Australian Open but World Number 1 Rory McIlroy lurking just one shot behind.
"I think it's very early to be talking about winning given who's right behind me and who's playing very well, very early to be thinking about what's going to happen on Sunday night."
McIlroy had a mixed round, with just one par on the back nine to finish at 2-under 69 for a two round total of 4-under the card.
"I felt like I had an opportunity today to maybe shoot a good one and put a little bit of space between myself and the rest of the field but it didn't really pan out that way," said McIlroy.
"I had six birdies and an eagle today. You eliminate the bad stuff and the bogeys and all of a sudden you turn that into a low score."
"I was happy with how I finished obviously, I was 4-under for the last five holes and came back well and still in a good position going into tomorrow."
Joining McIlroy tied second on the leaderboard are Adam Crawford (NSW), Todd Sinnott (am)(VIC) and Conrad Shindler (USA).
Overnight leader Jordan Spieth had 1-over 72 today and is tied 6th on 3-under the card with Brett Rumford and Geoff Drakeford who is making his Professional debut this week after Monday qualifying for the tournament.
Rounding out the top-10 on 2-under the card are six players including World Number 3 Adam Scott.
Chalmers shot a second-round 66 over the par-71 track for a five-under 36-hole tally of 137.
Big-name attractions Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott weren't far behind on a tough day for scoring.
Defending champion McIlroy played in difficult afternoon conditions at the Australian Golf Club but he persevered for an up-and-down 69 to be in a group tied for second.
McIlroy only had only one par on the back nine -- the 10th. The others, from the 11th, went birdie, bogey, bogey, eagle, birdie, bogey, birdie, birdie. He also birdied the ninth with about a 70ft putt, but also found water hazards on two holes for bogeys.
"I felt like I had an opportunity today to maybe shoot a good one and put a little bit of space between myself and the rest of the field, but it didn't really pan out that way," McIlroy said.
Chalmers had seven birdies in his second round to move to 5-under 137 after 36 holes.
"It seemed to move around a little bit and change direction," Chalmers said. "Sometimes you think you should be downwind and because you've turned in a certain direction you're actually into the wind. I think I changed clubs two or three times on shots."
Scott and American Jordan Spieth played together in calmer morning conditions and Spieth (72) is in a group tied for sixth, two behind leader Chalmers. That group included former Australian amateur Geoff Drakeford, who is playing his first tournament as a professional.
"I think the greens were certainly testing us," Scott said, "but I'm getting to understand the slopes on the greens and especially around the edges.
" I've hit a lot of wedge shots that have been a little mis-struck and then spinning off the greens. I guess that's got to do with the pin positions as well. So getting it very close to the hole is not that easy. I think the greens have to be the defense because there is no rough."
Scott, who moved from potential cut to contention with a 66, is three strokes off the pace on 140
"Yesterday I got off to a bad start, and I didn't scramble well when I had to and it started to get away from me," Scott said. "Today a couple of good shots coming up 14 and I made an eagle and momentum is on your side."
After two rounds, there were only 16 players under par.
Spieth had to call for a rules official on the par-3 fourth hole when a marshal stood on his ball, but neglected to tell him when he got to the green.
Members of the gallery informed Spieth, and after he took a drop, the American fluffed his chip and missed his putt for par. On the way to the next hole, he flung his ball into a creek.
His round ended well with birdies on his last two holes, but that wasn't enough to make it a good day for Spieth.
"It was a struggle, big-time struggle," Spieth said. "I wasn't hitting it well. If I wasn't putting well I may have shot 45 on the back nine.
"I just didn't find the ball-striking until the last few holes and then was very fortunate to grab a few birdies. I was really looking at making 4s and getting in and regrouping for tomorrow. But instead I kept myself in the tournament."
Aberdeen-born Michael Sim, who became world No 1 amateur as he grew up in Australia, missed the cut by one shot with scores of 75-72. Sim has never been able to recover the form he had previous to a lower back injury a few years ago.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2x71)
Players from Australia unless stated
137 Greg Chalmers 71 66
138 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 69 69, Adam Crawford 69 69, Todd Sinnott (am) 71 67, Conrad Shindler (USA) 70 68.
139 Jordan Spieth (USA) 67 72, Geoff Drakeford 69 70, Brett Rumford 70 69
140 Robert Allenby 71 69, Rod Pampling 73 67, Jake Higginbottom 71 69, Adam Scott 74 66, Rhein Gibson 70 70, Richard Green 69 71
SELECTED SCORE
MISSED THE CUT (146 and better qualified)
147 Michael Sim (Scotland) 75 72
Chalmers breaks into the lead with late birdie
West Australian Greg Chalmers will take a one shot lead into
the weekend of the Emirates Australian Open being played at The Australian Golf
Club.
It
was a congested leaderboard toward the end of the second round but a
birdie on the 18th hole pushed Chalmers clear into the lead.Starting the day at even par, Chalmers fired a 5-under 66 to earn his place at the top of the leaderboard.
"I felt really good about what I'd been trying to do and how I struck my irons compared to yesterday," said Chalmers.
"I did some hard work yesterday afternoon and this morning and that gave me a lot of confidence."
"I felt like I had a nice rhythm to my swing after that, and it was just a case of maintaining that and seeing if I could get some good results out of it."
Chalmers has maintained a gruelling schedule having been to five countries since playing the ISPS HANDA Perth International in October.
"I don't feel jet lagged, it's just my sixth event in a row and I'm trying to converse my energy," added Chalmers.
"Ironically, the more birdies I make, it seems to be the more energy I have, so that's always a good thing."
Chalmers is a two time champion at the Emirates Australian Open but World Number 1 Rory McIlroy lurking just one shot behind.
"I think it's very early to be talking about winning given who's right behind me and who's playing very well, very early to be thinking about what's going to happen on Sunday night."
McIlroy had a mixed round, with just one par on the back nine to finish at 2-under 69 for a two round total of 4-under the card.
"I felt like I had an opportunity today to maybe shoot a good one and put a little bit of space between myself and the rest of the field but it didn't really pan out that way," said McIlroy.
"I had six birdies and an eagle today. You eliminate the bad stuff and the bogeys and all of a sudden you turn that into a low score."
"I was happy with how I finished obviously, I was 4-under for the last five holes and came back well and still in a good position going into tomorrow."
Joining McIlroy tied second on the leaderboard are Adam Crawford (NSW), Todd Sinnott (am)(VIC) and Conrad Shindler (USA).
Overnight leader Jordan Spieth had 1-over 72 today and is tied 6th on 3-under the card with Brett Rumford and Geoff Drakeford who is making his Professional debut this week after Monday qualifying for the tournament.
Rounding out the top-10 on 2-under the card are six players including World Number 3 Adam Scott.
Chalmers breaks into the lead with late birdie
West Australian Greg Chalmers will take a one shot lead into
the weekend of the Emirates Australian Open being played at The Australian Golf
Club.
It
was a congested leaderboard toward the end of the second round but a
birdie on the 18th hole pushed Chalmers clear into the lead.Starting the day at even par, Chalmers fired a 5-under 66 to earn his place at the top of the leaderboard.
"I felt really good about what I'd been trying to do and how I struck my irons compared to yesterday," said Chalmers.
"I did some hard work yesterday afternoon and this morning and that gave me a lot of confidence."
"I felt like I had a nice rhythm to my swing after that, and it was just a case of maintaining that and seeing if I could get some good results out of it."
Chalmers has maintained a gruelling schedule having been to five countries since playing the ISPS HANDA Perth International in October.
"I don't feel jet lagged, it's just my sixth event in a row and I'm trying to converse my energy," added Chalmers.
"Ironically, the more birdies I make, it seems to be the more energy I have, so that's always a good thing."
Chalmers is a two time champion at the Emirates Australian Open but World Number 1 Rory McIlroy lurking just one shot behind.
"I think it's very early to be talking about winning given who's right behind me and who's playing very well, very early to be thinking about what's going to happen on Sunday night."
McIlroy had a mixed round, with just one par on the back nine to finish at 2-under 69 for a two round total of 4-under the card.
"I felt like I had an opportunity today to maybe shoot a good one and put a little bit of space between myself and the rest of the field but it didn't really pan out that way," said McIlroy.
"I had six birdies and an eagle today. You eliminate the bad stuff and the bogeys and all of a sudden you turn that into a low score."
"I was happy with how I finished obviously, I was 4-under for the last five holes and came back well and still in a good position going into tomorrow."
Joining McIlroy tied second on the leaderboard are Adam Crawford (NSW), Todd Sinnott (am)(VIC) and Conrad Shindler (USA).
Overnight leader Jordan Spieth had 1-over 72 today and is tied 6th on 3-under the card with Brett Rumford and Geoff Drakeford who is making his Professional debut this week after Monday qualifying for the tournament.
Rounding out the top-10 on 2-under the card are six players including World Number 3 Adam Scott.
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posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, November 27, 2014
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Double
European champion Ashley Chesters and international Sarah-Jane Boyd are
England’s top golfers for 2014, each winning their respective England
Golf Order of Merit.
