Korhonen leads by one at Shot Clock Masters

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Mikko Korhonen produced a big finish to sign for a bogey-free round of 67 and take a one-shot lead after round two of the Shot Clock Masters.

The Finn is seeking his first European Tour win at Diamond Country Club near Vienna, Austria, in the ground breaking 72 hole stroke-play event in which every player in the field is on the clock for every shot, and he got to nine under par after birdieing three of his last four holes.

Korhonen and his playing partners Austin Connelly and Ashun Wu made their way around the course in 4hr 8min on Friday afternoon – 40 minutes faster than the 2018 European Tour average for 18 holes played in three balls.

However the fastest round of the week so far came in the morning session, with Nico Geyger, Henric Sturehed and Kristian Krogh Johannessen recording the lowest time for the second day in succession, this time clocking up 18 holes in just 3hr 47min – more than an hour faster than the season average.

England's Steve Webster and South African Justin Walters are one shot off the lead at eight under par, while local hero Matthias Schwab, 2016 champion Wu, veteran Spaniard Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Dane Jeppe Pape Huldahl are a shot further back at seven under par.
Former Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, who expressed how much he has enjoyed the Shot Clock Masters concept, is then one of five players at six under par.
The European Tour’s official timing policy is implemented on every hole this week, with players given a 50 second allowance for a first to play approach shot (including a par three tee-shot), chip or putt and a 40 second allowance for a tee-shot on a par four or par five, or second or third to play approach shot, chip or putt.
Failure to make your shot in the allotted time leads to a one-shot penalty on the hole in question but players are allowed two 40 second time-extensions in any one round. So far no penalties have been administered.
Player quotes
Mikko Korhonen: “That was pretty good, but I didn't feel as good hitting the golf ball today as I did yesterday, so I'm very happy with the score. I'm sticking to my game plan, hitting a lot of fairways. I'm hitting a lot of irons off the tees here, just hitting the middle and taking it from there.
“It's a bit breezier today, the greens are getting harder, the fairways are getting harder, it's a bit tougher. I just need to stick to what I've been doing and hopefully that gets me there.”

Steve Webster: “I played lovely yesterday and just continued it today, really. It was nice to have a late tee time and then an early one, so you just get straight back on with it. I'm making a lot of birdies, putting nicely, giving myself a lot of chances.
“I love it, I've always been a quick player. I couldn't wait to get into the tournament - I was a reserve a few weeks ago and I was crossing my fingers to get in. I love quick golf and this is how it should be. Everyone is so positive about it and how it's gone so far.
Mathias Schwab: “It was a little tougher today with the wind, and the greens were a little bumpy with spike marks, but it was great. Tougher conditions but the course is in good shape.
“I couldn't make any more birdies coming in, but it's OK, it's a four under for the day. Early on I made a very nice putt on one and I hit it pretty close on a couple of holes. I got a few good up and downs and in the end I birdied the par five, which was nice.
“I'm sure the crowd will be on my side over the weekend, which is a nice thing to know. The crowds were great this afternoon, so I'm looking forward to playing in front of them tomorrow and Sunday. 

Nicolas Colsaerts: “This is great, this is how we should play week in, week out. You have plenty of time. You have to be ready, of course, but most of the time we still have 15 or 20 seconds to go when we hit shots.
“It took two or three holes yesterday to get into the rhythm to know where exactly we were time-wise, but once you know the deal I think it’s plenty enough.
“I feel this week is all about education about how quick a normal round should be played. You would wish a few slow players would have played this format to really know what it is like.”

Round two scores
par 144 (2x72)135 M Korhonen (Fin) 68 67136 J Walters (RSA) 68 68, S Webster (Eng) 69 67137 J Huldahl (Den) 68 69, A Wu (Chn) 69 68, M Schwab (Aut) 69 68, M Jiménez (Esp) 67 70,139 J Winther (Den) 69 70, N Colsaerts (Bel) 70 69, O Lengden (Swe) 66 73, C Ford (Eng) 72 67, R McGowan (Eng) 69 70,140 J Hansen (Den) 72 68, E Johansen (Nor) 71 69, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 69, P Hanson (Swe) 67 73, S Surry (Eng) 75 65, D Im (USA) 70 70, T Lewis (Eng) 69 71, J Arnoy (Nor) 72 68, L Gagli (Ita) 71 69, C Syme (Sco) 68 72, A Connelly (Can) 69 71, A Pavan (Ita) 70 70, N Cullen (Aus) 70 70, K Samooja (Fin) 70 70,141 G Forrest (Sco) 71 70, O Farr (Wal) 69 72, O Stark (Swe) 69 72, D Papadatos (Aus) 76 65, D Huizing (Ned) 71 70, W Ormsby (Aus) 72 69, D Horsey (Eng) 70 71,142 B Ritthammer (Ger) 70 72, S Kjeldsen (Den) 69 73, J Choi (Kor) 70 72, M Nixon (Eng) 73 69,143 A Bland (Aus) 70 73, A Chesters (Eng) 71 72, J Thomson (Eng) 70 73, T Pulkkanen (Fin) 67 76,144 L Nemecz (Aut) 73 71, F Aguilar (Chi) 71 73, P Khongwatmai (Tha) 71 73, H Sturehed (Swe) 73 71, M Foster (Eng) 69 75, L Slattery (Eng) 72 72, D Stewart (Sco) 72 72, S Khan (Eng) 72 72, C Bezuidenhout (RSA) 72 72, S Straka (Aut) 69 75, L Canter (Eng) 71 73, V Riu (Fra) 72 72,145 K Johannessen (Nor) 71 74, S Heisele (Ger) 70 75, B Dredge (Wal) 74 71, J Lima (Por) 73 72, J Carlsson (Swe) 72 73, B Stow (Eng) 74 71, M Millar (Aus) 71 74, M Fraser (Aus) 73 72,146 A Hansen (Den) 68 78, R Evans (Eng) 71 75, S Fernandez (Esp) 73 73, R McGee (Irl) 73 73, M Brier (Aut) 75 71, J Munro (Aus) 72 74, M Tullo (Chi) 72 74, C Prader (Aut) 74 72, J Norris (Aus) 71 75,147 A Sandhu (Ind) 77 70, B Evans (Eng) 73 74, R Green (Aus) 75 72, M Lundberg (Swe) 69 78, B Neil (Sco) 68 79, J Geary (Nzl) 74 73, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 74 73, P Oriol (Esp) 78 69, M Steinlechner (am) (Aut) 75 72,148 G Bourdy (Fra) 76 72, C Blomstrand (Swe) 70 78, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 75 73, Z Lombard (RSA) 72 76, M Kim (Kor) 70 78, K Reitan (am) (Nor) 70 78,149 R McEvoy (Eng) 73 76, P Widegren (Swe) 73 76, R Cho (Kor) 73 76, T McKibbin (am) (Nir) 71 78,150 G Moynihan (Irl) 71 79, E Goya (Arg) 73 77, M Baldwin (Eng) 75 75, M Schneider (Ger) 74 76, F Fritsch (Ger) 70 80,151 G Stal (Fra) 72 79, C Pigem (Esp) 74 77, L Astl (Aut) 77 74, D Brooks (Eng) 74 77, N Geyger (Chi) 74 77, M Ford (Eng) 75 76, C Koepka (USA) 73 78,152 C Mivis (Bel) 77 75, F Laporta (Ita) 75 77, L Johnston (Sco) 77 75, M Armitage (Eng) 75 77,153 C Hanson (Eng) 72 81, K Koivu (Fin) 75 78,154 B Reiter (Aut) 80 74, B Neumayer (Aut) 76 78,155 J Edfors (Swe) 79 76, Ó Serna (Mex) 76 79,157 P Gal (Cze) 78 79,158 J Steiner (Aut) 78 80, P Shields (Sco) 79 79,162 R Gruber (Aut) 81 81, P Dedek (Cze) 75 87,164 J Singh (Ind) 82 82, ** P Angles (Esp) 74 RT, S Kapur (Ind) 79 RT, N Bertasio (Ita) 76 WD,