Americans Jeff Overton and Tom Pernice share a three-shot lead after the rain-interrupted second round of the US$6 million PGA AT&T National on Friday.
Pernice matched the course record with a blistering seven-under 63, while Overton, who has not finished in the top 20 all year, fired a 65 to reach nine-under 131 at the Congressional Country Club course.
“I finally made a cut,” said Overton in celebration.
PHOTO: AFP
Overton had not broken par since the last week in April and has missed the cut in six of his past seven tournaments.
“It was one of best ball striking rounds I’ve had probably in my whole life,” the 25-year-old Overton said. “I hit a lot of two-irons, just because I knew I could hit seven, six or five-irons into the green I was very confident with it. It was a fun round.”
Pernice, 48, warmed up after his first five holes with a string of four-straight birdies beginning at the par-four sixth hole. He added three birdies on the back nine, including one to close his round at the par-four 18th.
“I’m obviously very happy with the round and how it turned out,” he said. “You don’t hit that many iron shots that end up that close. That really makes it nice. But the rain we got this morning made it much more playable.”
Anthony Kim is third at six-under 134 after carding his second consecutive 67 in a round that was interrupted for one hour because of rain.
A group of seven players are at five-under, including Australians Rod Pampling and Nick O’Hern who shot 69 and 65.
“The greens were a lot softer,” Pampling said. “We obviously had that rain this morning, so it was difficult to get it close to some of the pins. A lot of times we had short irons and you really had to be careful not to spin it too much.”
It marked the second time this year that Pernice shot a 63. He also posted the same score in the final round of the St. Jude Championship last month en route to tying for eighth.
Pernice, who missed the cut last week at the Buick Open, is seeking his first win on the PGA Tour in seven years.
First-round leader Steve Marino is also at five-under after an even-par 70.
Defending champion K.J. Choi has fallen eight shots back of the leaders after a one-over 71 dropped him to one-under 129 and a tie for 26th.
The event was supposed to be hosted by Tiger Woods, who underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee three weeks ago.
■EUROPEAN OPEN
AFP, LONDON
Sergio Garcia, having created his share of Spanish sporting success on Friday with a second round 64 in the European Open, headed off from the London Club course in Kent, south-east of London, to witness another as compatriot Rafael Nadal won through to the Wimbledon final.
Garcia’s round ultimately left him four shots behind leader Ross Ford after the Englishman backed up his course record 63 with a four-under 68. Should Garcia and Nadal, who has already won the French Open this year, both triumph today it would be a cause for yet more rejoicing in Spain after their soccer team beat Germany in the final of Euro 2008.
Garcia got to know Nadal in Majorca last October, playing golf and tennis in a pro-am.
“It was awesome playing tennis with him,” the 28-year-old Garcia said. “He was quite impressed with my game and I was impressed with his golf. Rafa and I send messages to each other and I’m sure he will be happy about my round.”
Meanwhile, Fisher was pleased by the way in which he had cemented his position.
“After a 63 you just want to show people that it wasn’t a fluke and I’m pretty pleased with that,” Fisher said. “I didn’t feel entirely comfortable with my swing, but I almost felt — it almost sounds funny — I was in the zone a little bit. I was just walking around with a tremendous amount of calmness and peacefulness in myself. You’ve got loads of superstars this week and it gives you a tremendous amount of confidence beating so many of the top boys. We’ll see what happens come Sunday.”
Garcia, regarded as one of the best current golfers yet to win a Major, played the first nine holes in just 32 shots, but was even more impressive over the closing nine in what was his first tournament in the UK since he lost a play-off for last year’s British Open to Padraig Harrington.
But having won the Players Championship in Florida in May, he is among the favorites for The Open at Royal Birkdale later this month in the absence through injury of Tiger Woods.
However, in this tournament, Garcia was still three shots behind playing partner Graeme McDowell, who ended the day in second place after a 67 followed his first round 65.
“It’s always difficult to follow up a good day at the office, so today’s round probably gave me more satisfaction,” McDowell said.
■LPGA ARKANSAS
AFP, ROGERS, Arkansas
South Korea’s Lee Seon-hwa led another Asian assault on the LPGA Tour on Friday by firing an eight-under 64 for a two-shot lead after the first round of the Arkansas Championship.
Lee rolled in nine birdies and is the leader in the clubhouse after a rain-delayed first round at the Pinnacle Country Club.
“I hit pretty good today,” the 22-year-old Lee said. “I mean, I didn’t miss any fairways and had a pretty solid iron round. I hit a lot of birdies because of my irons, actually made nine birdies today. So that was really, really good.”
The first round was called because of darkness after a five-hour delay pushed back tee times.
The 2006 LPGA rookie of the year, Lee has two career USLPGA Tour victories, winning once in each of the past two seasons.
“I was just pretty solid today and very consistent with every shot,” Lee said.
South Korea’s HJ Choi is two shots back, reaching the clubhouse with a 66, while Japan’s Ai Miyazato and South Korea’s Ji Eun-hee fired 67s. The top five players on Friday were all Asian.
China’s Feng Shanshan and South Korea’s Chung Il-Mi are part of a group of five players who shot three-under 69, five shots back of Lee.
“I think this golf course is good for the Korean players because it is not long and the greens are really soft this week,” Lee said. “So I think the Korean players are really consistent. That’s why a lot of the Korean players played well today and maybe this week too.”
■ASEAN TOUR
AFP, LIPA CITY, Philippines
Filipino Angelo Que cruised to a three-stroke victory after shooting a seven-under 65 in the fourth round of the Mount Malarayat Championship yesterday.
Que’s score, which matched the course record, handed him his second victory of the season after he won the Philippine Open in April and set him up for the British Open next week.
“It’s been a great year for me so far and winning before I play in the British Open is perfect. It is a big boost,” the 26-year-old said. “Everything went my way today. I hit the ball really well and made a lot of ‘iddi biddi’ putts. It’s great getting all this attention, but I am not letting it all go to my head.”
Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat also carded a 65 to finish in second place, while Filipino Marvin Dumandan returned a 66 to take sole possession of third place, but was seven adrift of the winner.
Que started the day with a one-shot lead and was briefly challenged by Wisut.
He shot an eagle and five birdies in the final round to finish on 20-under 268.
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