OLDCORN GOES FOUR CLEAR IN SENIORS' RIVIERA MASTERS
REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
In-form Andrew Oldcorn will take a commanding four stroke lead into the
final day of the French Riviera Masters after a dramatic conclusion to
the second round at Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort.
The Scot fired a four under par 68 – his seventh consecutive under par
round on the European Senior Tour – to move to nine under par 135 after
late mistakes by Luis Carbonetti and Philip Golding dented their title
hopes.
Argentine Carbonetti had shared the overnight lead with Oldcorn, and the
pair spent most of the day on equal terms, but a double bogey five on
the 16th hole, followed by back-to-back bogeys on the 17th and 18th, meant Carbonetti
signed for a 73 to slip five shots off the pace.
Golding was also in touch with Oldcorn until he lost his ball off the
tee on the last hole and racked up a costly double bogey six to finish,
as the Englishman posted a level par 72 to also end up on four over par.
Meanwhile, Oldcorn ironed out the self-confessed mental errors he made
on his front nine, when he mixed bogeys on the fourth and seventh holes
with birdies on the second and sixth, as he came back in 32 shots.
Oldcorn, who has finished in the top ten in each of his last three Senior Tour events, birdied the 11th, 12th, 14th and 17th holes in a flawless back nine, to open up a comfortable cushion at the top of the leaderboard.
“It was a funny day because I didn’t strike the ball as well as
yesterday, and I definitely didn’t putt as well – certainly the front
nine,” he said. “But I just stuck at it. I knew I was still swinging
pretty good and that opportunities would come on the back
nine. I wasn’t always in control, but I came good on the back nine.”
Australian Peter Fowler (71) and South Africa Chris Williams (69) are
Oldcorn’s nearest rivals on five under par, but even Oldcorn admitted he
was surprised by the margin of his lead following a tight battle with
Carbonetti for 15 holes.
“There was a massive swing on the 15th when Luis had a six
foot putt for birdie to go to nine under, and he missed and then he hit
it into the hazard on the next and bogeyed the last two holes,” said
Oldcorn.
“So there was a massive swing for me against him. Luis had dragged me
along before that because he played really well. I was trying to stick
with him and jockey for position. So to come out with a four stroke lead
is great. It would have been inconceivable
standing on the 16th tee, but that is golf.
“That can happen on this course and I’m taking nothing for granted
tomorrow. I like where I am and I know what I have to do. I have to do a
few things better than I did today, certainly putt better, and
hopefully I will be alright.”
Williams also enjoyed a fine back nine, with an eagle on the par five 14th
hole and birdie to finish, as he chases his first top five finish of
the season. It was more a steady ride for Fowler, who closed with six
straight pars, as a one under par
front nine was followed by a birdie on 11 and a bogey on 12 in his
round of 71.
Carbonetti and Golding share fourth place with Paraguay’s Angel Franco
(70) and Englishman Paul Wesselingh, the 2012 Rookie of the Year, who
carded a 68.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
135 A Oldcorn (Sco) 67 68,
139 C Williams (RSA) 70 69, P Fowler (Aus) 68 71,
140 P Wesselingh (Eng) 72 68, L Carbonetti (Arg) 67 73, P Golding (Eng) 68 72, A Franco (Par) 70 70,
141 G Turner (Nzl) 72 69, M Martin (Esp) 68 73,
142 S Brown (Eng) 73 69, T Elliott (Aus) 70 72, S Luna (Esp) 73 69, B Cameron (Eng) 71 71,
143 J Carriles (Esp) 72 71, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 71, J Bruner (USA) 71 72,
144 J Pate (USA) 73 71, A Sherborne (Eng) 73 71, K Tomori (Jpn) 70 74, G Manson (Aut) 73 71, M Kuramoto (Jpn) 72 72,
145 D Russell (Eng) 75 70, S Tinning (Den) 70 75, M McLean (Eng) 74 71, P Curry (Eng) 77 68,
146 N Job (Eng) 74 72, P Jonas (Can) 72 74, M Cunning (USA) 73 73, C Rocca (Ita) 71 75, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 72 74,
147 G Ralph (Eng) 71 76, P Mitchell (Eng) 72 75, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 72 75, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 72, M Farry (Fra) 73 74,
148
M Harwood (Aus) 75 73, A Fernandez (Chi) 74 74, R Thompson (USA) 72 76,
J Gould (Eng) 74 74, P Way (Eng) 72 76, G Ryall (Eng) 75 73,
149
S McAllister (Sco) 73 76, R Sabarros (Fra) 74 75, G Norquist (USA) 74
75, R Gibson (Can) 75 74, B Longmuir (Sco) 73 76, G Wolstenholme (Eng)
74 75, S Cipa (Eng) 74 75,
150 P Walton (Irl) 72 78, J Sallat (Fra) 82 68, T Price (Aus) 72 78, J Rivero (Esp) 81 69, T Thelen (USA) 75 75,
151 K Spurgeon (Eng) 77 74, D Durnian (Eng) 76 75, P Linhart (Esp) 73 78, D James (Sco) 76 75, H Buhrmann (RSA) 75 76,
152 G Brand (Eng) 77 75, J Harrison (Eng) 75 77, J Laforce (Can) 78 74, R Drummond (Sco) 76 76, W Grant (Eng) 78 74,
153 D Hospital (Esp) 77 76, G Banister (Aus) 76 77,
154 D Smyth (Irl) 75 79,
155 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 78 77,
156 M Piñero (Esp) 76 80, J Quiros (Esp) 74 82,
158 S Bennett (Eng) 78 80,
163 M Bembridge (Eng) 81 82,
167 A Garrido (Esp) 84 83,
Labels: SENIOR PROS
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