2006 Macau Open - Kennedy leads strong Aussie challenge

Kennedy achieved a two-day total of nine-under-par 133 as he holds a narrow one stroke lead over countryman and rookie Kane Webber who was equally impressive with a 65. Aussie Scott Strange, ranked 16th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, shot the lowest round after a 64 as he was joint second alongside Webber.

Aussie star Steve Elkington trailed Kennedy by four strokes as he improved with a 66 under the calm and sunny conditions at the Macau Golf and Country Club.

Similarly for South African Peter Karmis, who after firing a 64, jumped to fourth spot. Marcus Both of Australia slid down the leaderboard when he shot a 70 and was in joint fifth position with American Anthony Kang who carded a 67.

After enjoying a blemish free round on Thursday, Kennedy kept the momentum going when he birdied the first, second and fourth holes today. He dropped a shot on the ninth but recovered with four more birdies on the back nine.

“I got up probably to the best start. I was three under after four holes. I kept the momentum going after yesterday and I’m very happy,” said Kennedy, who is gunning for his maiden Asian Tour title.

“Things were going my way but had a mishap on the ninth which was my first bogey of the week but I got birdies on the 12th, 13th, 16th and the last which was nice,” he said.

Webber, playing in only his second tournament on the Asian Tour, had previously finished in the top five at the Aamby Valley Asian Masters in India last week. Starting on the 10th tee, Webber conquered the front nine with birdies 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th holes. After a birdie on the fourth hole, the young Aussie then stumbled on the par four fifth hole with a double bogey.

“I had a slight struggle at the fifth hole but I had a good finish coming in,” said Webber, who ended the day with back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth holes.

Webber, 25, was introduced to golf at the age of seven by his father Brian Webber.

Both’s mishap on the opening hole proved costly as he dropped to shared fifth spot. The 26-year-old struggled with a double bogey at the par four first hole but bounced back with a birdie at the following hole. Three more birdies and a bogey left his with a two-day total of 136.

“The first green was significantly slower than the practice green and I left my first putt six feet short. My second putt did not break and I just went for the tap in. But it was damp and the ball steered left and I missed from just over a foot. It was a rookie mistake I should not have made,” said Both.

Still struggling from his putting woes, Chinarat, who shot a 68, was in shared seventh alongside Elkington after five birdies against two bogeys.

Things are looking up, however, for Elkington since his recovery from the groin injury as he stayed in contention with six birdies against a lone bogey.

“Conditions were ideal today. Most beautiful day ever, no humidity, hardly any wind. I got off to a good start as I turned three under. I bogeyed the first hole. After a great drive right down the middle, I pulled the second shot into the rough and three putted,” said Elkington, who is a major winner.

“I hit the ball well today. I drove the ball good, I putted better. I am looking forward to the next two days. Hope the weather will be just like this which was what I though it would be.

“There were some beautiful views up there. On the 17th hole, I could see the other islands. I feel great to be standing there looking at that,” he said.

Leading second round scores:

133 - Brad Kennedy (AUS) 68-65

134 - Kane Webber (AUS) 69-65, Scott Strange (AUS) 70-64

135 - Peter Karmis (RSA) 71-64

136 - Marcus Both (AUS) 66-70, Anthony Kang (USA) 69-67

137 - Steve Elkington (AUS) 71-66, Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 69-68

138 - Michael Wright (AUS) 69-69, Cookie Lao (PHI) 73-65

139 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 70-69, Airil Rizman Zahari (MAS) 71-68, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 67-72, Scott Barr (AUS) 71-68, Adam Le Vesconte (AUS) 72-67, Ari Savolainen (FIN) 70-69

140 - Jason Knutzon (USA) 71-69, Pat Giles (AUS) 70-70, John Wither (SCO) 73-67, Hong Chia-yuh (TPE) 70-70, Alistair Presnell (AUS) 72-68, Barry Hume (SCO) 74-66, Gerald Rosales (PHI) 72-68

141 - Jochen Lupprian (GER) 70-71, Henry Perks (AUS) 75-66, Keith Horne (RSA) 75-66, Jarrod Moseley (AUS) 75-66, Jamie Mcleary (SCO) 75-66, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 73-68, Lee Sung (KOR) 70-71, Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 71-70, Park Jun-won (KOR), 72-69

May 19. 2006

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