Archive for the ‘Golf’ Category

Yani Tseng: second successive 68 for the world No.1

Yani Tseng remained on course for a sixth major title after moving into a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Rancho Mirage in California.

The 23-year-old world No 1, chasing her third consecutive LPGA title, carded a second straight 68 to move a shot clear of Korean Haeji Kang.

Tseng started at the 10th and picked up birdies at 13 and 14 before adding another at the long 18th to turn in 33.

The Taiwan ace gave a shot back at the first but responded at the next and her fifth birdie of the day at the ninth seized the outright lead.

“You never get tired when you want to win a tournament,” Tseng said. “I just figured out I’m tired after the last two wins when you come into this week, but after (Thursday), I had a good sleep, and I relaxed a few days, and I think I’m coming back with a fresh focus.”

If she wins on Sunday, Tseng will become the youngest golfer to win six majors. Tiger Woods was 26 when he won his sixth.

Kang offset seven birdies with three bogeys as she matched Tseng’s 68, while Lindsey Wright (71) and Sun Young Yoo (69) are a shot further adrift.

Jodi Ewart is the leading English challenger, although she struggled to a one-over 73 to slip to two under while Catriona Matthew’s 70 got the Scot back to level par.

England’s 16-year-old prodigy Charley Hull endured a torrid day but scraped into the weekend on four over despite a 77, while Michelle Wie carded seven bogeys in her 77 to miss the cut by two.

Collated second round scores & totals (USA unless stated, par 72):

136 Yani Tseng (Tai) 68 68

137 Haeji Kang (Kor) 69 68

138 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 67 71, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 69 69

139 Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 72 67, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 70 69, Karin Sjodin (Swe) 72 67

140 Vicky Hurst 70 70, In-Kyung Kim (Kor) 70 70, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 71 69, Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 71 69, Amy Yang (Kor) 66 74

141 Cristie Kerr 71 70, Hee Kyung Seo (Kor) 69 72, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 68

142 Paula Creamer 69 73, Ha-Neul Kim (Kor) 71 71, Jodi Ewart (Eng) 69 73, Nicole Castrale 69 73, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 72 70, Katherine Hull (Aus) 69 73

143 Karrie Webb (Aus) 71 72, Christina Kim 74 69, Sandra Gal (Ger) 71 72, Jennifer Song 72 71, Jiyai Shin (Kor) 72 71, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 71 72, Pornanong Phatlum (Tha) 71 72, Angela Stanford 72 71, Jennifer Johnson 72 71, Mi Jung Hur (Kor) 73 70, Hee Young Park (Kor) 72 71

144 Aryia Jutanugarn (Tha) 71 73, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 74 70, Cindy Lacrosse 73 71, Lexi Thompson 72 72, Hee-Won Han (Kor) 70 74, Katie Futcher 72 72, Heather Bowie Young 74 70, Diana Luna (Ita) 76 68, Mina Harigae 73 71

145 Azahara Munoz (Spa) 73 72, Karen Stupples (Eng) 73 72, Inbee Park (Kor) 71 74, Candie Kung (Tai) 70 75, Stacy Lewis 74 71, Julieta Granada (Par) 70 75

146 Chella Choi (Kor) 72 74, Reilley Rankin 73 73, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 72 74, Karine Icher (Fra) 73 73, Leta Lindley 76 70, Cydney Clanton 70 76, Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 74 72, Caroline Hedwall (Swe) 74 72, Mo Martin 74 72, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 71 75, Lizette Salas 76 70

147 Morgan Pressel 73 74, Lorie Kane (Can) 74 73, Melissa Reid (Eng) 77 70, Wendy Ward 71 76, Ji-Hee Lee (Jpn) 74 73, Kris Tamulis 72 75, Austin Ernst 77 70, Natalie Gulbis 76 71, Dewi Claire Schreefel 75 72, Christel Boeljon (Ned) 74 73

148 Beatriz Recari (Spa) 72 76, Caroline Masson (Ger) 79 69, Charley Hull (Eng) 71 77, Pat Hurst 75 73, Brittany Lang 74 74, Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 76 72, So yeon Ryu (Kor) 74 74, Becky Morgan (Wal) 76 72, Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 74 74, Yukari Baba (Jpn) 75 73, Alena Sharp (Can) 75 73, Kyeong Bae (Kor) 74 74, Jaye marie Green 71 77, Amanda Blumenherst 75 73

The following players failed to make the cut:

149 Jenny Shin 75 74, Jimin Kang (Kor) 72 77, Jessica Korda 76 73, Janice Moodie (Sco) 73 76

150 Stacy Prammanasudh 74 76, Hyun-Hwa Sim (Kor) 77 73, Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa) 75 75, Kristy McPherson 76 74, Silvia Cavalleri (Ita) 73 77, Michelle Wie 73 77, Amy Hung (Tai) 76 74, Sherri Steinhauer 73 77, Alison Walshe 75 75

151 Mika Miyazato (Jpn) 75 76, Moriya Jutanukarn (Tha) 77 74, Maria Hernandez (Spa) 75 76, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 75 76, Jee young Lee (Kor) 78 73

152 Ryann O’toole 76 76, Meena Lee (Kor) 78 74, Brittany Lincicome 76 76, Paige Mackenzie 77 75

153 Louise Friberg (Swe) 74 79, Tiffany Joh 76 77, Meaghan Francella 77 76, Jeong Jang (Kor) 77 76

154 Grace Park (Kor) 76 78, Belen Mozo (Spa) 83 71, Na On Min (Jpn) 78 76

155 Eunjung Yi (Kor) 75 80, Alison Lee 79 76, Laura Davies (Eng) 76 79

158 Gerina Piller 74 84

159 Song-Hee Kim (Kor) 78 81

Brian Davis: Shares the lead at the end of day two along with Louis Oosthuizen

England’s Brian Davis grabbed a share of the lead alongside Louis Oosthuizen as the Shell Houston Open remained behind schedule on day two of the event.

Second-round leaderboardUS unless stated

-11 B Davis (Eng)-11 Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa)-10 J Maggert*-9 T Gainey-9 G Owen (Eng)-9 P Mickelson

* = Yet to complete second round

Click here for full leaderboard

Davis and Oosthuizen sat on 11 under but with 70 players yet to finish their second rounds because of bad weather on the first day, the leading duo’s position looked anything but secure.

American Jeff Maggert is a shot back on 10 under after carding four birdies in the 10 holes he has played so far.

But the clubhouse lead still belongs in part to Davis, who produced a blemish-free seven-under round of 65 to take his place at the top of the leaderboard.

He was joined there by 2010 Open champion Oosthuizen, who also went round without dropping a shot in his six-under 66.

Maggert had just passed the halfway point in his round when he and the rest of the players were forced off by bad light.

Just a shot further back on nine under was another American, James Driscoll, who picked up four birdies having played just seven holes.

Driscoll was in a group of five players on nine under which also contained England’s Greg Owen and four-time major champion Phil Mickelson.

Damp

Thursday’s torrential rain had cleared by the time play got under way on Friday, but because of a still damp surface the players were allowed to lift, clean and place their balls in the fairways.

“It was a good day at the office today,” Davis, who has never won on the PGA Tour, told the Tour’s official website.

“It was tougher this morning because we didn’t have ball in hand to start the round and we had the rain yesterday.

“This morning was pretty tough. The ball was flying everywhere. We got the ball in hand this afternoon, you know, [and] got a flag to go at.”

Mickelson, who managed to complete both of his two rounds, was pleased with his position heading into the weekend.

He said: “I played really well. I didn’t quite take advantage of the opportunities that I did in the [first] round where I hit a lot of good shots close. Ten, 12, 15-footers I made in the first round, I caught lips in the second.

“There was a lot of good things to build on heading into the weekend. I feel really good about where my game is at. I’ll be able to shoot a little bit lower score than I did this afternoon.”

Pelle Edberg: shot a best-of-the-day 66

Six players are tied at the top of a congested leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Sicilian Open.

Sweden’s Pelle Edberg was the biggest mover of the day, charging into a tie for the lead after a morning round of six-under-par 66 that included six birdies and an eagle at the par five 11th.

He shares the lead on eight under with Welshman Jamie Donaldson, England’s Simon Wakefield and David Lynn, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and first round leader Peter Lawrie.

Second round leaderboard:GB & Ire unless stated-8 D Lynn-8 J Donaldson-8 Pe Lawrie-8 P Edberg (Swe)-8 M Lafeber (Ned)-8 S Wakefield

Collated scores

Irishman Lawrie posted a brilliant 64 to lead on Friday, but had to settle for a level-par second round at the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, with three birdies and three bogeys.

The congestion continues behind the leaders with seven players locked on seven under, while 25 players in total are within two shots of the lead.

The six leaders have just three European Tour titles between them courtesy of Lynn, Lafeber and Lawrie, who was most the recent champion in Spain in 2008.

Wakefield told www.europeantour.com “It was just one those days when everything went right. I hit every shot I wanted to hit, and managed to hole my fair share of putts, so I’m delighted.

“The company’s been great, the weather’s perfect and there aren’t many more scenic places like this to play golf, so I’ve really enjoyed myself. It makes you feel a bit more relaxed, and I play my best golf when I am relaxed.”

Lafeber, who had to go back to Qualifying School last year after finishing 149th in the Race to Dubai, picked out the in-form Donaldson, who would have led on his own had he not bogeyed his final hole, as the man to watch.

Bunched

“Last year my long game was horrible – I was hitting it all over the place,” said the Dutchman. “So I’m happy to be back playing well again.

“It’s looking pretty bunched at the moment. Jamie Donaldson is playing very well, and there’s some good players up there so it won’t be easy.

“It’s important for me to get off to a good start, and hopefully I can take more of the chances which come my way over the weekend.”

Among the players on seven under is Dane Soren Kjeldsen, who was one of the joint leaders for much of the day but bogeyed the 17th for a level-par round, while Ireland’s Shane Lowry is also one behind following a 70.

Former Open champion John Daly picked up seven shots in 14 holes to move to eight under only to bogey the 16th and 18th and drop back into a 12-strong group on six under, which also includes England’s Chris Wood.

Amy Yang: Has set the earlier pace at the Kraft Nabisco Championship

Amy Yang took a one-shot lead on the first day of the Kraft Nabisco Championship in California with a six-under-par round of 66.

The South Korean carded eight birdies against two bogies to lead by one from Australia’s Lindsey Wright.

At six under through 13, Wright was in great shape to lead herself, but she could not make another birdie and was one over for her remaining five holes.

Yani Tseng, the 2010 champion, was third on four under, a shot ahead of a group of seven players on three under which included England’s Jodi Ewart.

Ewart was bogey-free for her round and birdied the ninth, 11th and 16th holes.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis had a day to forget, as she ended in a share of 60th on two over.

English teenager Charley Hull shot a one-under-par 71 in her first professional event.

And the 16-year-old, who was initially omitted from the amateur Curtis Cup squad after missing the team trial to compete in this year’s opening LPGA major before the decision was overturned, was pleased with her performance.

Hull said: “I birdied my first ever hole of my first ever major, so I was pretty chuffed with that.

“I wasn’t hitting it very good on the range this morning but I struck it really good out there. I didn’t miss any greens, hit my driver really well and I hit my irons pretty close today, so I can’t complain about that.

“It’s hard to take it all in, but I am just trying to concentrate, not try and do anything different to upset my routine.”

Collated first-round scores (USA unless stated, par 72):

66 Amy Yang (Kor)

67 Lindsey Wright (Aus)

68 Yani Tseng (Tai)

69 Paula Creamer, Sun Young Yoo (Kor), Hee Kyung Seo (Kor), Haeji Kang (Kor), Jodi Ewart (Eng), Nicole Castrale, Katherine Hull (Aus)

70 Vicky Hurst, Cydney Clanton, In-Kyung Kim (Kor), Se Ri Pak (Kor), Hee-Won Han (Kor), Julieta Granada (Par), Candie Kung (Tai)

71 Aryia Jutanugarn (Tha), Eun Hee Ji (Kor), Karrie Webb (Aus), Cristie Kerr, Wendy Ward, Inbee Park (Kor), Sandra Gal (Ger), Charley Hull (Eng), Ai Miyazato (Jpn), Pornanong Phatlum (Tha), Momoko Ueda (Jpn), Ha-Neul Kim (Kor), Sarah Kemp (Aus), Jaye marie Green

72 Chella Choi (Kor), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Lexi Thompson, Katie Futcher, Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Kris Tamulis, Jennifer Song, Jiyai Shin (Kor), Na Yeon Choi (Kor), Jimin Kang (Kor), Angela Stanford, Karin Sjodin (Swe), Jennifer Johnson, Hee Young Park (Kor), Shanshan Feng (Chn)

73 Karen Stupples (Eng), Cindy Lacrosse, Morgan Pressel, Reilley Rankin, Maria Hjorth (Swe), Karine Icher (Fra), Michelle Wie, Silvia Cavalleri (Ita), Azahara Munoz (Spa), Sherri Steinhauer, Mi Jung Hur (Kor), Janice Moodie (Sco), Mina Harigae

74 Stacy Prammanasudh, Brittany Lang, Heather Bowie Young, So yeon Ryu (Kor), Louise Friberg (Swe), Christel Boeljon (Ned), Mo Martin, Kyeong Bae (Kor), Christina Kim, Catriona Matthew (Sco), Lorie Kane (Can), Ji-Hee Lee (Jpn), Ji-Young Oh (Kor), Gerina Piller, Caroline Hedwall (Swe), Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Stacy Lewis

75 Mika Miyazato (Jpn), Lee-Anne Pace (Rsa), Pat Hurst, Jenny Shin, Eunjung Yi (Kor), Alena Sharp (Can), Dewi Claire Schreefel, Yukari Baba (Jpn), Maria Hernandez (Spa), Sophie Gustafson (Swe), Alison Walshe, Amanda Blumenherst

76 Tiffany Joh, Ryann O’toole, Brittany Lincicome, Kristy McPherson, Leta Lindley, Grace Park (Kor), Seon Hwa Lee (Kor), Natalie Gulbis, Becky Morgan (Wal), Jessica Korda, Amy Hung (Tai), Diana Luna (Ita), Lizette Salas, Laura Davies (Eng)

77 Moriya Jutanukarn (Tha), Austin Ernst, Hyun-Hwa Sim (Kor), Paige Mackenzie, Melissa Reid (Eng), Meaghan Francella, Jeong Jang (Kor)

78 Na On Min (Jpn), Meena Lee (Kor), Song-Hee Kim (Kor), Jee young Lee (Kor)

79 Caroline Masson (Ger), Alison Lee

83 Belen Mozo (Spa)

WD: Mindy Kim (Kor) 77

Carl Pettersson: Back to form after changing set-up

Carl Pettersson and Angel Cabrera led the Shell Houston Open before thunder and lightning ended play early on day one.

Cabrera birdied the 18th to complete a flawless seven-under-par 65 shortly before lightning in the area forced the players from the course at Redstone Golf Club.

First round clubhouse leadersUS unless stated-7 C Pettersson (Swe)-7 A Cabrera (Arg)-6 R Barnes-6 J Maggert

Pettersson was already safely in the clubhouse by that point after carding eight birdies and one bogey – on the 17th – in his opening round.

American duo Jeff Maggert and Ricky Barnes were a shot further back after rounds of 66, while England’s Lee Westwood also made a good start with a round of 68 to lie four under.

Play remained suspended as torrential rain battered the course with only 51 players in the clubhouse.

“I got off to a great start … kept it going and got it to eight under,” Pettersson said. “It was a little disappointing bogeying 17, but I gave myself a great chance on 18 and didn’t make it.

“I’m happy with seven under. I played really good … solid from the tee, hit good irons and putted really well.”

The American-based Swede came into the event on the back of two missed cuts but said a minor change had brought big results.

“I changed my set-up. I opened up my stance and enabled my left hip to really fire through the ball. I play my best when my club really exits left through the ball.

“I felt like I was striking the ball well again, and I told myself this morning just to play aggressive, shoot at the pins and see what happens. Hopefully I can get on a roll here.”

Peter Lawrie: Practice paid off ahead of Sicilian Open

Ireland’s Peter Lawrie as he carded a course-record 64 to claim the lead after the first round of the Sicilian Open.

Lawrie recorded nine birdies and just one bogey at Verdura Golf and Spa Resort to finish eight under par, one ahead of Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Argentina’s Tano Goya.

First round leaderboard:GB & Ire unless stated-8 P Lawrie-7 S Kjeldsen (Den)-7 J Donaldson-7 T Goya (Arg)

Collated scores

The 38-year-old Dubliner missed the cut in last week’s Hassan Trophy after rounds of 69 and 76, but bounced back in style as he looks to add to his sole European Tour title at the Spanish Open in 2008.

“I’m delighted after last week,” Lawrie told Sky Sports. “I got it to four or five under and unfortunately played 12 holes in five over on Saturday and walked off the golf course devastated.

“But I came here and really practised hard over the last couple of days and I’m delighted that I actually holed a few putts today.

“It’s forgiving off the tee here I have to admit, but the design is very good and the ball is running on the fairways so it makes us short hitters have some good chances.

“The closing holes you can make a few birdies but you just have to watch that 18th hole, it’s a daunting tee shot. The water is certainly in your mind when you tee off.”

Approach

Lawrie saved par from 10 feet on the 18th after finding a greenside bunker with his approach to the 475-yard par four, with his only bogey of the day coming on the 13th.

And asked about his approach for the rest of the tournament, he added: “Just keep on plodding away.

“You can’t win a tournament on Thursday as they always say but you can lose it. I’m not going to get ahead of myself.

“I’m out early tomorrow, which is good for me, I’ll try to post a number and let everyone shoot at it tomorrow afternoon.”

Kjeldsen had earlier set the clubhouse target with a 65 containing an eagle, six birdies and one bogey, while Donaldson – aiming for his first European Tour success at the 249th attempt – matched it with a flawless effort featuring five birdies and an eagle.

The 36-year-old is certainly in low-scoring form after firing three eagles in a closing 61 to finish third in the Hassan Trophy on Sunday.

There were contrasting fortunes for John Daly and Costantino Rocca, with the duo who fought out a play-off for the 1995 Open title paired together here.

The American enjoyed the better day with a one-under round of 71, while Rocca shot a five-over-par 77.

Eighteen-year-old Matteo Manassero, at 61 the highest-ranked player in the field, carded a 72.

Peter Lawrie: Practice paid off ahead of Sicilian Open

Ireland’s Peter Lawrie as he carded a course-record 64 to claim the lead after the first round of the Sicilian Open.

Lawrie recorded nine birdies and just one bogey at Verdura Golf and Spa Resort to finish eight under par, one ahead of Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Argentina’s Tano Goya.

First round leaderboard:GB & Ire unless stated-8 P Lawrie-7 S Kjeldsen (Den)-7 J Donaldson-7 T Goya (Arg)

Collated scores

The 38-year-old Dubliner missed the cut in last week’s Hassan Trophy after rounds of 69 and 76, but bounced back in style as he looks to add to his sole European Tour title at the Spanish Open in 2008.

“I’m delighted after last week,” Lawrie told Sky Sports. “I got it to four or five under and unfortunately played 12 holes in five over on Saturday and walked off the golf course devastated.

“But I came here and really practised hard over the last couple of days and I’m delighted that I actually holed a few putts today.

“It’s forgiving off the tee here I have to admit, but the design is very good and the ball is running on the fairways so it makes us short hitters have some good chances.

“The closing holes you can make a few birdies but you just have to watch that 18th hole, it’s a daunting tee shot. The water is certainly in your mind when you tee off.”

Approach

Lawrie saved par from 10 feet on the 18th after finding a greenside bunker with his approach to the 475-yard par four, with his only bogey of the day coming on the 13th.

And asked about his approach for the rest of the tournament, he added: “Just keep on plodding away.

“You can’t win a tournament on Thursday as they always say but you can lose it. I’m not going to get ahead of myself.

“I’m out early tomorrow, which is good for me, I’ll try to post a number and let everyone shoot at it tomorrow afternoon.”

Kjeldsen had earlier set the clubhouse target with a 65 containing an eagle, six birdies and one bogey, while Donaldson – aiming for his first European Tour success at the 249th attempt – matched it with a flawless effort featuring five birdies and an eagle.

The 36-year-old is certainly in low-scoring form after firing three eagles in a closing 61 to finish third in the Hassan Trophy on Sunday.

There were contrasting fortunes for John Daly and Costantino Rocca, with the duo who fought out a play-off for the 1995 Open title paired together here.

The American enjoyed the better day with a one-under round of 71, while Rocca shot a five-over-par 77.

Eighteen-year-old Matteo Manassero, at 61 the highest-ranked player in the field, carded a 72.

Luke Donald: Was undone at the 12th last year

World number one Luke Donald believes that, much like last year, we’re in for another epic Masters Tournament.

The Englishman finished four shots behind eventual winner Charl Schwartzel a year ago, and but for a momentum-killing double bogey at the par-three 12th on Sunday, he might have been right in there challenging for the title on the closing holes.

Now, he can’t wait to get back to Augusta and make amends.

“If I was a spectator at last year’s Masters, I would have loved to have either been there or watching it on TV,” Donald told Europeantour.com. “As a player, hearing all those roars coming down the back nine was so exciting for me. I was playing with Bo [Van Pelt], and he was making a couple eagles and I was making a few birdies of my own.

“It was one of those Masters where the conditions were right for a lot of birdies, a lot of charging on the back nine, and it made for a lot of fun. It was great to be a part of, and exciting to be in with a chance of winning, but the 12th was obviously a killer for me.

Paid the penalty

“It was probably the only bad swing I made all day – I just pushed it about ten yards with a nine iron, and paid the penalty. But I was proud of the way I dug in deep and made some birdies coming home, and hopefully I can put myself into contention to win again this year.”

This year’s Masters is already shaping up to be something special, with Tiger Woods finding his winning touch just in time and the likes of Donald, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood, to name a few, all in good form as well.

“Augusta is always one of the most exciting events of the year, just because it’s the first major and especially this year because a lot of good things are happening in golf, a lot of the big names are playing well,” said Donald.

“So golf is really exciting right now. Tiger’s obviously making a comeback, and all of the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. As players, we all look forward to the Masters. It’s what a lot of the off-season is geared towards, and I certainly can’t wait to get there.”