2005 Macau Open - Round 2: Lu brothers hog limelight

The Lu brothers enjoyed a family outing in the second round of the US$275,000 Macau Open on Friday, with Lu Wei-lan snatching a one-stroke lead following a masterful five-under-par 66 and younger brother Wei-chih shooting the week's first hole-in-one.

The 31-year-old Wei-lan was in irrepressible form at the par-71 Macau Golf and Country Club as he tamed strong winds with six birdies on the card, including four on the treacherous homeward stretch. His two-day total of 10-under-par 132 is one stroke clear of Australian Marcus Both, who moved into contention with a battling 68.

Former Taiwan Open champion Jason Dawes of Australia, who switched to a broomhandle putter this week, was lurking two strokes adrift after a 67 while title holder Jason Knutzon maintained his challenge with a 68 for joint fourth place on 135 alongside China's Zheng Wen-gen, Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang, Korea's Suk Jong-yol and Australian Terry Pilkadaris.

While the Lu brothers were relishing a special occasion in the Asian Tour event, the tournament's drawcard Fred Couples endured a tumultuous day. The former US Masters champion signed for a disappointing 72, which included seven birdies, four bogeys and a quadruple bogey eight and was a massive eight shots back in tied 24th position.

Two-time Macau Open champion Zhang Lian-wei of China failed to ignite his title challenge on a breezy day, shooting a 70 for a two-day score of 139.

It was left to the Lu brothers to seize the day's spotlight. First, Wei-chih knocked in his fourth career ace with a nine iron at the 150-yard fourth hole en route to a 69 to make the halfway cut and in the afternoon, his older sibling charged through the leaderboard.

Wei-lan holed monster putts of 25 feet and 30 feet on the first and third holes to turn at two under before dropping his first bogey of the week on 10. He rebounded superbly with four birdies over his next five holes, thanks to accurate iron play which set up short birdie putts, to surge to the top.

"The wind was a lot stronger today but I hit a low ball, so it's not a problem for my game," said Wei-lan. "I knew my brother had shot an ace in the morning but I maintained my focus all day and played really nicely."

A seven-year campaigner on the Asian Tour, the 31-year-old admitted his previous results were left to be desired, with a tied fourth in Macau two years ago being his only top-10 outing. "It's time for me to make my mark on Tour. I've been working hard at my game with eight-hour practice sessions back home and I feel ready. My heart feels steady this week and I'm feeling good," said Wei-lan, who has benefited from coaching lessons with Asia's Visa Dynasty Cup team captain Hsieh Min-nan in the past.

The 24-year-old Both, who won the Sanya Open in China in his rookie professional year in 2003, birdied three par five challenges on his homeward stretch to lead the chasing pack. His only blemish was a bogey on the fifth after driving into a hazard. "It was a little tougher today but I managed to get a decent number on the board. The breeze was coming from a different direction and made it difficult to judge the distances. But I'm in a nice position," said Both.

Joint overnight leader Zheng battled to a 70 to remain within striking distance following a round that included three birdies against two dropped shots. Like many, the unheralded 38-year-old Chinese was caught out by the swirling winds.

"The breeze was stronger and I misjudged several shots for bogeys. I'm a few shots back which is okay and I'll try harder tomorrow. The good thing is that my swing feels good, I just need to manage my game better if the wind picks up again at the weekend," said Zheng.

His more famous compatriot and namesake Zhang, a two-time Macau Open champion, saw his title challenge slowed down by an uncharacteristic double bogey on the fifth hole after snap-hooking a drive that landed next to a tree. "It was just one bad drive. I was struggling to cope with my yardages as I'm using a new ball which goes further. If it doesn't blow tomorrow, I may have a chance to catch the leaders," said Zhang.

Couples was rueing two errant drives on the 13th and 16th holes, the latter which saw him scribble a dreaded "snowman", a reference to the number "eight". The smooth-swinging American lost a ball from off the 16th tee with blocked drive and finished up with a three-putt.

"It's like high school. I don't know when was the last time I made an eight," said the 15-time winner on the US PGA Tour. "It was hot and sweaty. I don't wear gloves, so I was struggling a little bit which should not be an excuse. It's disappointing. I can't do any stupid stuff at the weekend. I know I can shoot six or seven birdies but would need to avoid the blunders."

The halfway cut was set at 144, with 67 players moving into the weekend rounds. Amongst the casualties were Australian Andrew Buckle, tied second at last week's SK Telecom Open in Korea, and British Open-bound Mardan Mamat of Singapore and another Aussie Richard Moir.

Leading second round scores
132 - Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 66-66
133 - Marcus Both (AUS) 65-68
134 - Jason Dawes (AUS) 67-67
135 - Zheng Wen-gen (CHN) 65-70, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 66-69, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 67-68, Jason Knutzon (USA) 67-68, Suk Jong-yol (KOR) 67-68
137 - Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 67-70, Edward Loar (USA) 71-66, Kao Bo-song (TPE) 71-66
138 - Anthony Kang (USA) 70-68, Harmeet Kahlon (IND) 71-67, Alejandro Quiroz (MEX) 70-68
139 - Ross Bain (SCO) 68-71, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 69-70, Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 69-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-68, Andrew Pitts (USA) 69-70, Lu Tze-shyan (TPE) 71-68, Arjun Singh (IND) 71-68, Chen Tze-chung (TPE) 69-70, Corey Harris (USA) 68-71
140 - Fred Couples (USA) 68-72, Olle Nordberg (SWE) 70-70, Lin Chie-hsiang (TPE) 69-71, Airil Rizman Zahari (MAS) 71-69
141 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 71-70, Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 71-70, Lin Wen-ko (TPE) 73-68, Lin Wen-hong (TPE) 72-69, Amandeep Johl (IND) 70-71, Pornsakon Tipsanit (THA) 67-74, Uttam Singh Mundy (IND) 70-71, Danny Chia (MAS) 72-69, Richard Backwell (AUS) 69-72, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 72-69

May 13, 2005

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