AUSTRALIAN OPEN ROUND 3 REPORT

RORY ROCKS IN WIND: SPIETH, 

CHALMERS, RUMFORD SHARE LEAD


FROM THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH  
Rory McIlroy's hopes of retaining the Australian Open championship look to have sunk without trace after a woeful third round left him well adrift of the leading pack at the Sydney venue. 
A pair of openings 69s had left the world number one firmly in contention to defend the crown he won in thrilling style last year, but he has been some way short of his best in Sydney this week.
That was evident on Saturday as a five-over-par 76 left him on one-over-par 214 overall, six shots adrift of leading trio Brett Rumford, Jordan Spieth and Greg Chalmers.
Despite being level par after eight holes - when he was joint leader - with a bogey at the fourth immediately followed up by a birdie at the next, McIlroy's round fell apart just before the turn.
He found the rough on the ninth and struggled to dig his way out en route to a triple bogey 7 and he then made a double bogey 6  at the 10th to tumble down the leaderboard.
McIlroy birdied the next but another pair of bogeys, at the 13th and 16th, dropped him further back.
A birdie at the last meant the Northern Irishman at least ended on a positive note going into the final round, but the damage had long since been done.
McIlroy won the title at the Australian Golf Club 12 months ago on the 72nd hole, where he pipped world number three Adam Scott, who is currently one shot off the lead after a third-round 69.
Although McIlroy was not ready to concede, he admitted he had given himself a mountain to climb.
"It was a tough day obviously," he said on the tournament's website. "The wind was up. I was doing okay, steady enough, until I got to the ninth. I hit a wayward tee-shot into what I thought was a decent enough lie that I could advance the ball.
"But I didn't realise what I was standing on is not like dirt or earth. It was more like carpet. So the ball went underneath the carpet. Had it been a normal surface it would have been alright, but down there it was impossible."
Even if retaining his title proves out of reach, McIlroy is keen to put on a show on Sunday in his final round of the year.
"I need a fast start tomorrow to have a chance," he said. "It depends too on what the guys ahead of me do. I need some help. But the greens have been firmer every day. So a low score is higher than it was.
"I still feel like I can shoot a good one. I just don't know if that will be enough. I'll be trying my best. It's the last round of the season so it would be nice to make it a good one."
A tricky windy coupled with hard, bouncy greens and difficult pin placements, left only six players under par after 54 holes.American Spieth shot a two-under-par 69 and shares a one-stroke lead on five-under 139 with home hopes Chalmers (71) and Rumford (69)
Adam Scott is tied fourth with fellow Australian Rod Pampling after both shot 69s.
"The course is on a razor's edge as they are trying to create a golf course that's as unplayable as they can get it without it being so and it's right on that point," said Rumford in the Media Centre.
"It's tough, I'm certainly not saying it's easy. You seem as though you are pedalling a million miles an hour going no where."
Spieth described conditions as "brutal" and was pleased with his mix of five birdies and three bogeys, one of which came at the ninth hole when his approach shot hit the pin and bounced back off the green.
"The wind was flipping, it was tough to get the right yardage let alone the accuracy," he said.
"I felt like I really hung in there nicely. To grab five bogeys on a day like today, if I can do that tomorrow I think I will be in good shape."
Scott snared his third birdie of the day when he holed a 25ft putt at the 17th but would have gone even lower had his putter otherwise been working as well as his irons.
"It's a tough day out there but I think I struck the ball very well, solid, so I didn't feel like I was grinding," Scott said.
"A shame to miss a couple of short ones but made up for it on 17 with a long one."
Pampling fired the shot of the day with an iron from 150yd for an eagle at the 10th and could have had a share of the lead had he not missed a three-foot birdie putt on the 18th.


LEADERBOARD
Par 213 (3x71) Players from Australia unless stated
208 Brett Rumford 70 69 69, Jordan Spieth (USA) 67 72 69, Greg Chalmers 71 66 71
209 Adam Scott 74 66 69, Rod Pampling 73 67 69
211 Todd Sinnott (am) 71 67 73

SELECTED SCORES
214 Boo Weekley (USA) 72 71 71, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 69 69 76 (T14).

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PROTECTING LOCAL ENVIRONMENT ISSUE

RIO JUDGE SAYS WORK ON OLYMPICS 

GOLF COURSE CAN CONTINUE

FROM GOLF.COM WEBSITE
SAO PAULO, Brazil -- A Rio de Janeiro judge  has this week denied a request from prosecutors to halt construction of the 2016 Olympic Games golf course because of environmental concerns, curtailing fears that the venue won't be ready in time for test events.
Judge Eduardo Antonio Klausner said in his decision that there is "no new fact justifying ... a halt in the implementation of the golf course for the Olympics."
He said changes made by the city and the course developer partially attended to the prosecutors' demands to protect the local environment.
Although the decision represented a loss for the prosecutors and environmentalists, it was only part of the ongoing legal battle. The judge can still reconsider his decision not to stop construction based on new evidence provided by the participants.
It wasn't clear if state prosecutors would seek to appeal Wednesday's ruling, but legal challenges were expected to continue.
In a 27-page legal brief made public last week, prosecutors had termed "laughable" proposals by the city and the course developer to modify the layout to reduce the environmental impact.
The judge ruled that by changing one of the holes of the golf course, the developers did enough to preserve the local vegetation. He said that the relocation of hole No. 12 made way for a 32-metre long wildlife corridor that will keep the vegetation intact. He also said that the type of grass being used on the golf course does not endanger the vegetation already in place in the area.
Prosecutors initially said they wanted a wildlife corridor of about 400 metres long to make sure the local environment was properly preserved.
The course, estimated by local media to be about 70 percent completed, is being cut out of a nature reserve in western Rio near the main cluster of Olympic venues and is part of a complex of luxury apartments selling for $3 million to $7 million.
Prosecutors have argued the environment must be the primary concern — not the Olympics or the real estate development.
In their brief filed last week, they alleged that the environmental licensing process for the course was riddled with errors and asked the judge to suspend the license.
The defendants in the case -- the city of Rio and the golf course developer -- have insisted any legal impediments to the course's construction could harm the Olympics, Rio, and the city's international reputation.
Construction workers have been working on the course and putting down grass for months, hoping to have the work finished as the South American summer growing season begins. Officials said the course needs two full growing seasons to be playable at a top level.
Test events were initially scheduled for late 2015 and early 2016.
+The Olympic Games will be held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 to 21, 2016 when golf will return to the programme.

CAPE TOWN OPEN HALFWAY

HENNIE OTTO LEADS BY TWO


South African Hennie Otto had seven birdies and two bogeys in compiling a second-round, five-under-par 67 which saw him double his first=day lead in the Lion of Africa Cape Town Open to two shots with a halfway tally of 11-under-par 133 at Royal Cape Golf Club.
Leading the chase are Titch Moore, Danie van Tonder and Thomas Aiken on nine-under-par 135 , while the round of the day belonged to Branden Grace, who dragged himself up by his bootstraps with a brilliant eight-under-par 64 to get within six shots of the lead on 139, joint 12th alongside Scotland's David Drysdale and Rhys Enoch (Wales).
“I’m hitting the ball well, and it’s nice to have a bit of confidence going into the weekend,” said Otto.
 “It’s always nice to lead a tournament again, but it’s not over yet, so we’ll see what the next two days are going to give me.”
It’s been a good year for Otto, with a European Tour victory on his record sheet once again, as he took the Open d’Italia for a second time in his career, and he finds himself in 10^th position on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit thanks to top-10 finishes in the Dimension Data Pro-Am and the Tshwane Open.
Grace made eight birdies – four in each half  – and he still felt as if he left a few out there. “If I knew the difference between yesterday's 75 and today's 64  I wouldn’t have done what I did!” he said
Ahead of him, Aiken was impressive with a six-under 66, and Moore and Van Tonder with whom he shares second, each carded 68s.
Scotland's David Drysdale shot a 69, covering his last 14 holes in five under par after an early bogey, to be sharing 12th place on 139 with Welshman Rhys Enoch (68-71).
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 6,818
Players from South Africa unless stated
133 Hennie Otto 66 67
135 Titch Moore 67 678, Danie Van Tonder 67 68, Thomas Aiken 69 66
136 Rhys West 71 65, Chris Swanepoel 68 68, Jacob Redman 69 67

SELECTED SCORES
139 Rhys Enoch (Wales) 68 71, David Drysdale (Scotland) 70 68, Branden Grace 75 64 (T12).
140 Ross McGowan (England) 69 71 (T22)
+Players with halfway totals of 144 and better qualified for the last two rounds.

 
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THAILAND REPORT AND SCORES

LAHIRI TAKES CONTROL AT KING’S CUP

 

Khon Kaen, Thailand: India’s Anirban Lahiri took the outright lead by signing for a five-under-par 67 after the second round of the King’s Cup at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club today.

The five-time Asian Tour winner, who shared the overnight lead with compatriot S S P Chowrasia, compiled a two-day total of 12-under-par 132 to take pole position on his own, holding a two-shot advantage over Australia’s Andrew Dodt.

Dodt also rode on his rich vein of form by making a huge move up the leaderboard with a 65 to share second place with Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner Jakraphan Premsirigorn on 134.

Local hero Thaworn Wiratchant showed age has not slowed him down by taking fourth place on 135 while Chowrasia posted a 71 to slip to tied-fifth with Australia’s Adam Groom, Spain’s Carlos Pigem and Thailand’s Danthai Boonma and Piya Swangarunporn.

Simon Yates, originally from Scotland, missed the cut by two shots with rounds of 73-71 for 144.
 

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD

par 144 (2x72) Yardage 7,449

Anirban LAHIRI                   IND       65     67  132

Andrew DODT	AUS	69	65	134
Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN	THA	69	65	134
Thaworn WIRATCHANT	THA	68	67	135
Adam GROOM	AUS	70	66	136
Carlos PIGEM	ESP	67	69	136
S.S.P CHOWRASIA	IND	65	71	136
Piya SWANGARUNPORN	THA	69	67	136
Danthai BOONMA	THA	66	70	136
Chikka S.	IND	69	68	137
Sam CYR	USA	72	65	137
Panuphol PITTAYARAT	THA	68	69	137
Paul PETERSON	USA	69	68	137
Kieran PRATT	AUS	69	68	137
Mathiam KEYSER	RSA	68	69	137
Phiphatphong NAEWSUK	THA	66	71	137
BAEK Seuk-hyun	KOR	69	68	137
Prom MEESAWAT	THA	68	69	137
Kalem RICHARDSON	AUS	66	72	138
Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL	THA	70	68	138
Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN	THA	70	68	138
LEE Hyung-joon	KOR	69	69	138
Poosit SUPUPRAMAI	THA	70	68	138
Chan KIM	USA	72	66	138
Blair WILSON	AUS	73	66	139
Rattanon WANNASRICHAN	THA	71	68	139
Simon GRIFFITHS	ENG	70	69	139
Stephen LEWTON	ENG	71	68	139
Daniel CHOPRA	SWE	67	72	139
Antonio LASCUNA	PHI	68	71	139
Varut CHOMCHALAM	THA	68	71	139
Atthaphon SRIBOONKAEW	THA	69	70	139
Arjun ATWAL	IND	72	67	139
Mardan MAMAT	SIN	68	71	139
Jazz JANEWATTANANOND	THA	73	66	139
Supravee PHATAM	THA	69	70	139
Scott BARR	AUS	71	69	140
Somkiat SRISA-NGA	THA	70	70	140
Teerawat POIPONG	THA	70	70	140
Jack MUNRO	AUS	69	71	140
Rashid KHAN	IND	71	69	140
Chawalit PLAPHOL	THA	70	70	140
Angelo QUE	PHI	70	70	140
MO Joong-kyung	KOR	67	73	140
Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI	THA	71	69	140
Pijit PETCHKASEM	THA	70	71	141
Arie IRAWAN	MAS	68	73	141
Nirun SAE-UENG	THA	70	71	141
Bryce EASTON	RSA	73	68	141
Porameth SONTHIRATI	THA	71	70	141
LEE Sung	KOR	70	71	141
Chris RODGERS	ENG	71	70	141
James BOWEN	USA	73	68	141
WANG Jeung-hun	KOR	70	71	141
Nattapong PUTTA	THA	71	70	141
Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT	THA	68	73	141
Itthipat BURANATANYARAT	THA	71	70	141
Jarin TODD	USA	68	73	141
Michael TRAN	VNM	71	70	141
KIM Gi-whan	KOR	70	71	141
Annop TANGKAMOLPRASERT	THA	69	72	141
Akinori TANI	JPN	70	72	142
Chris GAUNT	AUS	68	74	142
Kwanchai TANNIN	THA	71	71	142
Udorn DUANGDECHA	THA	72	70	142
Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL	THA	74	68	142
Ratchaphol JUNTAVARA	THA	71	71	142
Craig HINTON	ENG	69	73	142
Ye Htet AUNG [A]	MYN	70	72	142
Pasavee LERTVILAI	THA	71	71	142
Arnond VONGVANIJ	THA	72	70	142
Phachara KHONGWATMAI	THA	71	71	142
Sam BRAZEL	AUS	74	68	142
Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT	THA	70	72	142
KOH Deng Shan	SIN	73	69	142
Ronnachai JAMNONG	THA	69	73	142
MISSED CUT
CHAN Shih-chang	TPE	71	72	143
Elmer SALVADOR	PHI	71	72	143
George GANDRANATA	INA	72	71	143
Thepbadin AMARANAN	THA	69	74	143
Panuwat MUENLEK	THA	72	71	143
Wolmer MURILLO	VEN	70	73	143
Scott HEND	AUS	71	72	143
CHOO Tze Huang	SIN	72	71	143
Guy WOODMAN	ENG	71	72	143
Sorachut HANSAPIBAN	THA	75	69	144
Ahmed MARJANE	MOR	77	67	144
Jay BAYRON	PHI	74	70	144
Mithun PERERA	SRI	68	76	144
Sakchai SIRIMAYA	THA	71	73	144
KIM Tae-woo	KOR	70	74	144
Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG	THA	70	74	144
Simon YATES	SCO	73	71	144
Nakarintra RATANAKUL	THA	72	72	144
LAM Chih Bing	SIN	73	71	144
Smithti TEERATRAKUL	THA	72	72	144
Javi COLOMO	ESP	70	75	145
Matthew STIEGER	AUS	75	70	145
Tanutchan PUAKTES	THA	71	74	145
Unho PARK	AUS	71	74	145
Zaw MOE	MYN	70	75	145
Lionel WEBER	FRA	71	74	145
Rahil GANGJEE	IND	71	74	145
Prasertsak PONGSAWALEESRI	THA	71	75	146
Grant JACKSON	ENG	73	73	146
Apisit NIMNUAL	THA	74	72	146
Natthapong NIYOMCHON	THA	76	70	146
Purilarp EUAMMONGKOL	THA	71	75	146
Wittawat SAE-UNG	THA	71	75	146
Siddikur RAHMAN	BAN	74	73	147
Joonas GRANBERG	FIN	74	73	147
Prin SIRISOMMAI	THA	76	71	147
Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON	THA	76	71	147
Atthachai JAICHALAD	THA	75	72	147
Chanachok DEJPIRATANAMONGKOL	THA	75	72	147
Chiragh KUMAR	IND	72	75	147
LIN Wen-hong	TPE	72	76	148
CHAN Yih-shin	TPE	76	72	148
CHIANG Chen-chih	TPE	76	72	148
Worrasorn SUWANPANANG	THA	76	72	148
Siriwong SUWANNASRI	THA	76	72	148
Philip MATSSON	THA	74	74	148
Pattaraphol KHANTHACHA	THA	70	78	148
Kasidit LEPKURTE [A]	THA	71	77	148
Pawin INGKHAPRADIT	THA	75	73	148
Siharnat KAEWSIRIBANDIT	THA	77	72	149
Suppakorn UTHAIPAT	THA	73	76	149
Himmat RAI	IND	75	74	149
Settee PRAKONGVECH	THA	74	75	149
Terry PILKADARIS	AUS	73	77	150
Theppartad SANAWONG	THA	73	77	150
Somsak KAOPRATUM	THA	73	77	150
Taiki HARA	THA	76	74	150
PARK Byung-joo	KOR	76	75	151
Tawan PHONGPHUN [A]	THA	76	75	151
Anthony KANG	USA	75	76	151
Paradorn SRICHAPHAN [A]	THA	77	74	151
Danny CHIA	MAS	72	79	151
Wanich PETCHARIT	THA	75	77	152
Lindsay RENOLDS	CAN	76	76	152
HSU Chia-jen	TPE	76	76	152
Narinrit TANTRAKUL	THA	76	76	152
Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL	THA	76	76	152
Supakrit RATTANAKAMPHOL	THA	79	73	152
Thammanoon SRIROJ	THA	77	76	153
Poom SAKSANSIN	THA	77	80	157
Ryan YIP	CAN