2006 Barclays Singapore Open - Round 2: Els and Strange joint leaders

Ernie Els produced a classy six-under-par 65 for a new course record and charged into the joint halfway lead with a gutsy Scott Strange of Australia at the US$3 million Barclays Singapore Open on Friday.

The South African star tamed the demanding Sentosa Golf Club's par-71 Serapong course with an eagle, five birdies and a bogey for a two-day total of six-under-par 136.

Strange, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, was equally heroic as he battled the effects of back spasms en route to an impressive 69 to share top honours with the "Big Easy".

Big-hitting Argentine Angel Cabrera was a stroke adrift in the Asian Tour's flagship tournament, crafting a fine 68 which included four birdies against a lone bogey while Japanese number one Shingo Katayama carded a second straight 69 for a share of fourth place with Aussie Brad Kennedy (67).

Defending champion Adam Scott of Australia, the highest ranked player in the world in the field at number six, battled to a 69 to lie three off the lead alongside Asian Tour young guns Shiv Kapur of India (69) and Thai Chapchai Nirat (68).

Three-time Major winner Els will however be the man to beat after his outstanding display of controlled golf. "I have got to be happy with that. I hit the ball solidly this morning. The greens are very nice. I hit a nice long one on the 14th, the par three (his fifth hole of the day) and that kind of broke the ice because I did not make a putt yesterday," said Els, whose effort bettered the day-old course record of 67 set by first round leaders Strange and Filipino Juvic Pagunsan.

Starting from the 10th, Els rattled in a 40-foot birdie putt on the 14th and worked his way to three-under with birdies from 15 feet at the 18th and second holes before a three-putt bogey on the third.

But the smooth-swinging South African regained his momentum, chipping in for an eagle at the par five fourth hole before rounding up his day with birdies on the fifth and ninth.

"My putting was the main difference, I made some more putts. I hit some putts yesterday after the round and kind of found a little secret and went with that today. I can't tell you that (secret)," smiled the world number seven.

Strange, winner of the Philippine Open in May, needed treatment on course after his back stiffened up while getting out from the shin-high rough on his 12th hole of the day at the third. But like the saying "beware the injured golfer", the Perth-based Aussie, who was walking gingerly throughout to preserve his back, still managed to fire a seven-birdie round.

"On Wednesday I was considering not playing. I spent time with the Tour's physiotherapist (Sheilagh Anderson) and played the Pro-Am and got through that. Yesterday I felt really good but today it's just tightened up a little bit.

"It ceased up on the third and I needed Sheilagh to give it a rub which helped. I'm just lucky to be here. I'll get to the first tee (tomorrow) and see if I can hit it down to the fairway and take it from there. Let's see what I can do," said Strange.

Strange reckons his unfortunate condition has helped him stay clear of the punishing Serapong rough. "I've got to sort of hit it like a granddad, don't I? I just try to baby it down the fairway and maybe that has helped."

The stylish Katayama, nicknamed "Kat in the Hat" as he sports a cowboy-styled hat, is showing the kind of form that has helped him win 20 titles on the Japan Golf Tour, including a recent victory last Sunday. "It is a case of not getting into trouble and then hoping for a low score on Saturday and Sunday. The winning score could be around 10 under so I am still in with a great chance," said Katayama, who has a 138 total. "The winning feeling is still with me."

Title holder Scott could have ended the day closer to Els if not for a costly bogey at his last hole on the ninth after he drove into the watery grave. "I felt like I played a bit better than what I shot today. I had a few putts that went by the edge and unfortunately I drove it into the water on the ninth. But you know, I'm pretty happy. I think I need to pick up the pace over the weekend and give Ernie a run.

"I'm definitely striking the ball well enough. I just need to get my share of putts over the weekend. I watched Ernie picking putts out of the hole all day and I'm not surprised at all. That's a great round of golf and I'm sure he's feeling good about himself going into the weekend," said Scott.

The talented Aussie, who has posted two top-10s in the Majors recently, knows he needs to post a low round to win his first title of the year. After turning in even par with a bogey against a birdie, Scott reeled in three birdies on the first, fourth and sixth before his final hole blemish. "I need one round where I don't make any bogeys and have five birdies or something like that at the weekend or on Sunday. I'm going to need some golf over the weekend," said Scott.

Europe's Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood of England carded a 69 for a 142 total while 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbel of New Zealand stumbled to a 75 to scrape it through the weekend rounds on 147.

However, Paul McGinley of Ireland, who will represent Europe in the Ryder Cup in two weeks time against the United States, were amongst those who missed the halfway cut set at six-over-par 148.

Leading second round scores
136 - Ernie Els (RSA) 71-65, Scott Strange (AUS) 67-69
137 - Angel Cabrera (ARG) 69-68
138 - Shingo Katayama (JPN) 69-69, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 71-67
139 - Adam Scott (AUS) 70-69, Shiv Kapur (IND) 70-69, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 71-68
140 - Chan Song (KOR) 73-67
141 - Christopher Joseph [A] (RSA) 69-72, Arjun Singh (IND) 74-67, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 72-69, Anthony Kang (USA) 70-71, Nick O'Hern (AUS) 69-72, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 68-73, Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 73-68, Unho Park (AUS) 72-69, Edward Loar (USA) 73-68
142 - Tim Clark (RSA) 73-69, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70-72, Simon Nash (AUS) 72-70, Charlie Wi (KOR) 74-68, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-70, Lee Westwood (ENG) 73-69, Adam Blyth (AUS) 72-70
143 - Andrew Buckle (AUS) 76-67, Richard Moir (AUS) 72-71, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 67-76, S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 72-71, Lee Sung (KOR) 72-71, Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 73-70, Gerald Rosales (PHI) 70-73
144 - Iain Steel (MAS) 70-74, Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 73-71, Yasin Ali (ENG) 74-70, Anton Haig (RSA) 73-71, Chris Rodgers (ENG) 74-70, Sung Mao-chang (TPE) 71-73, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 71-73

September 8, 2006

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