Els extends lead to three

A three-under round of 69 has propelled Ernie Els to a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne.

Els began steadily before posting birdies on holes 9,10 and 11 to re-establish the lead he set up with a superb round of 64 yesterday. His only blemish on the way home came in the form of a bogey at the 17th. But he made up for that with a good birdie at the last.

“I could have got a lot more out of the round,” Els said, “I had quite a few chances but you can’t always play the way you want to play.”

The South African currently leads Australians Greg Norman, Peter O’Malley and Stephen Leaney as well as Welshman Mark Pilkington.

Norman spent the afternoon in the clubhouse after shooting a five under 67 this morning to get to eight-under. His round began spectacularly with an eagle on his first hole, the tenth.

He then progressed steadily through the next few holes before birdying the eighth. Three birdies and a bogey on his way in gave Norman a 34 for his back nine to finish five-under for the day.

Norman said having the right attitude helped him today.

“I felt very good, very relaxed out there,” he said, “It was just a very steady round, very consistent.”

Pilkington, second-placed overnight, made progress to finish two-under for his round after his six-under 66 yesterday. It was an up and down round today from the Welshman with five birdies and three bogeys.

Peter O’Malley also finished his day only three shots off Els. The New South Welshman had an excellent start with four birdies in his first six holes. He then parred the remaining twelve holes to put himself in an excellent position for the weekend.

Stephen Leaney shot the best round of the afternoon with a 66. The Western Australian played in the same group as O’Malley and birdies on 16 and 17 moved Leaney to eight under for the tournament, meaning he could be teamed with his countryman again.

Leaney’s achievement paled in the deeds of New Zealander Richard Lee, who broke the course record with a sensational 62. Lee shot eight birdies and an eagle in a sublime display on the composite course. He now sits four shots off the lead in outright sixth.

Adam Scott won the battle of the young guns today, finishing even par for the round and entering the weekend five-under for the tournament. A two-shot turn around at the 17th allowed Scott to get in front of playing partner Aaron Baddeley. Baddeley missed a short putt for par while Scott drilled his long birdie attempt.

Scott then went on to birdie the last and move into equal 11th with five other players.

Justin Rose, meanwhile, came agonisingly close to making the cut. But his birdie putt at the last finished an inch short to deny the Englishman a weekend start.

It was a different story for John Daly, however, who made a decisive eagle on his last (the 9th) to get back to even par for the tournament. That was enough to ensure the big American stays around for the weekend.

Daly said he has battled for the tournament and despite thoughts to the contrary, he was not really suited by the Royal Melbourne layout.

“It’s a very different type of golf,” he said, “It’s very difficult to make birdies on these greens.”

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