Turner Trails Song and Spieth in Singapore

Niall Turner finished his second round at the SMBC Singapore Open signing for a level par round on Friday to hold  a share of 30th place - eight strokes off the lead. But only three shots behind Jordan Spieth who also signed for a level par second after opening with a  67 the previous day.

Korea’s Younghan Song surged up the leaderboard after carding an eight-under-par 63 in the second round of the weather-hit event on Friday.

Play was suspended because of inclement weather at 3.06pm (local time) and could not resume due to thunderstorms and lightning activities around the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club.

A total of 78 players, including world number one Jordan Spieth and Byeonghun An who completed seven holes, will return to finish their rounds at 7.30am on Saturday morning with round three scheduled to start immediately upon the completion of the second round.

An was at seven-under while Spieth traded one birdie and one bogey to stay at four-under after six holes, five shots back of Song at the US$1 million event which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

“I didn’t get off to a great start but made a good birdie on number two. That’s golf, that’s weather, you can’t control that. I could tell it was bad on other parts of the course,” said Spieth.

Song was on fire as he marked his card with seven birdies, one eagle and a bogey to establish a two-shot advantage over Japan’s Shintaro Kobayashi with his two-day total of nine-under-par 133.

The Korean stormed off the blocks quickly in the morning, going to five-under after four holes with two birdies and an eagle-three on four.

He charged towards the turn with another two birdies on seven and eight and continued to set the scorching pace with another pair of birdies on 10 and 11 before a bogey-five on 12 put the brakes momentarily on his charge.

After three straight pars from 13, Song sunk another birdie on 16 before reaching home comfortably in 63.

“It was a superb round and I really have to thank my excellent putting for putting me in this position.

“The goal is to win the tournament this week and for now, I just want to take a good rest before I come back again and hopefully play well like what I did today,” said Song.

Kobayashi meanwhile showed no signs of fatigue despite having to return early to complete his first round which was also suspended due to lightning yesterday.

The Japanese followed up his opening effort of a 66 with a 69 to put himself in a commanding position for the weekend rounds.

The 29 year-old had slightly more than an hour of rest before he was back at the tee again.

The Japanese went out in 35 after three birdies and two bogeys and would make another birdie on 17 to sign for a 69.

“I didn’t feel tired at all today. Maybe because it was cool in the morning and it only started to get a little hot and humid as the day went on.

“I feel comfortable on this course and if I continue to play like what I’ve done, anything can happen,” said Kobayashi.

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Turner Looking to Hero

Photo: AsianTour

Niall Turner is the sole Irish entry at Hero Indian Open on the Asian Tour in two weeks where he will join PGA Tour winner Michael Thompson and Robert Rock for the Golden Jubilee of this event. 

The Muskerry golfer returns to action after finishing 32nd at the OneAsia Venetian Macau won by Australian Scott Hend, with Ernie Els third.  

It has been a mixed season for Turner who was unsuccessful at the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 in France earlier this month, where he finished 30th and outside qualification spots for Stage 2. At the Northern Ireland Challenge presented by Clannah and XJet at Galgorm Castle Niall missed the cut after opening rounds of 75 and 78.  However in Macau rounds of 73-68-72-71 showed that form is returning.

Niall made his Asian Tour debut in 2011 and claimed three top-20's in his first nine months on Tour.  In 2012 he contended for the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic before finishing third and also finished top-20 in three other events during the season.

Next on his roster is the US$1.25 million Indian tournament will return to its birth place in 1964 at the venerable Delhi Golf Club from November 7 to 10, 2013.

Befitting the 50th edition of the Hero Indian Open, the local stars including Arjun Atwal, the first Indian to win on the US PGA Tour and Jyoti Randhawa, one of two players to win the Indian Open three times will vie for honours at India’s most prestigious golfing events.

Four other Indian winners, C Muniyappa (2009), Vijay Kumar (2002), Feroz Ali (1998) and Ali Sher (1991 and 1993) will add to the charm of the historic staging.

Mr. Pawan Munjal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd., said, “Hero has been associated with golf since the time the game was at a nascent stage in the country. It is, therefore, a matter of immense delight to see this event celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year.

Hero has been a partner in this glorious journey of golf and like always, we remain committed to the promotion of the game in India. I am looking forward to some memorable golf at this landmark edition of Hero Indian Open.”

Only seven Indians have won the National Open, of which the first PG Billoo Sethi (winner in 1965) passed away in 1982. The remaining six will be seen in action at the DGC this year.

While the past champions savour and relive their finest moments, the youth brigade led by four-time Asian Tour winner, Gaganjeet Bhullar, three-time Asian Tour winner, Anirban Lahiri and other winners like S.S.P. Chowrasia, Shiv Kapur, Himmat Rai and Digvijay Singh will also fancy their chances at the legendary and challenging layout at the Delhi Golf Club.

“The Asian Tour is proud to be associated with the 50th edition of the Hero Indian Open. The Asian Tour is also celebrating its 10th season in 2013 and on behalf of our talented players, I would like to congratulate the Hero Indian Open on its milestone,” said Asian Tour CEO Mike Kerr.

“The Hero Indian Open has been one of the longest running tournaments on our Schedule and the event has attracted many top golfers in India as well as from across the world. I’m confident the 2013 Hero Indian Open will be celebrated by the presence of the Asian Tour’s stellar stars including defending champion Thaworn.”

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Guiney Passes First Q Test

John Daniel Guiney produced an exceptional finish to four days of grueling play at Frilford Heath to move into the second stage of qualification for a European Tour card.

The Ballybunion man appeared to be in a hopeless position after rounds of 73 and 72 earlier in the week at the start of the first stage, but he roared into top gear to return 67 on Thursday and 69 yesterday for an aggregate of 281 seven-under-par.

In the end he was five strokes inside the cut-off point and can now look forward to heading to Spain next month for the second stage.

Liam Bond again found his name at the top of the leaderboard on the fourth and final day. The Welshman closed with a round of 71 to finish top of the pile on 12 under par alongside the overnight leader Laurie Canter (75) and his fellow Englishman Jack Senior, who signed off with a 70.

Perhaps the most eye-catching display of the day was that of English amateur Nathan Kimsey, who finished fourth on 11 under par after firing a flawless round of 65 in Oxfordshire.

Amateur Brian Casey, Shane Franklin, Mike Kelly and Thomas Conran were already out of contention having failed to make the cut after day three..

In France as Muskerry's Niall Turner flopped badly when it mattered most, slumping to a 77 for a 286 total, two strokes outside the cut-off point and 14 behind winner Wes Homan Jnr of the United States.

Homan Jnr coasted to victory in The European Tour’s Qualifying School First Stage Section D at Golf d’Hardelot, carding a closing round of 66 to finish five shots clear of the field on 12 under par. 

The American led home a total of 27 qualifiers from the northern France venue thanks to a stunning back nine of 30 which included five unanswered birdies.

Homan Jnr was followed home by South African Louis De Jager and England’s Ben Evans, who carded respective rounds of 70 and 71 to finish tied second on seven under par.

The group of players finishing one shot back in a tie for fourth included Challenge Tour champion Floris De Vries of The Netherlands (70) and overnight leader Haydn Porteous of South African, who laboured to a round of 73 but still comfortably progressed to the Second Stage.

Other successful qualifiers include former European Tour stalwarts François Delamontagne of France and Welshman Garry Houston, who finished tied tenth and joint 17th respectively, whilst perhaps the performance of the day belonged to Ricki Neil-Jones, who squeezed in under the level par qualifying mark courtesy of a superb round of 66.

Limerick's Tim Rice was well down the field in joint 56th place after a 76 gave him a total of six -over-par 290.

Richard Kilptarick failed to make the round three cut.

A total of 29 qualifiers progressed to the Second Stage including South African Brandon Stone, who made a stunning start to his professional career with a top ten finish at the BMW International Open in June in what was his first appearance since leaving the amateur ranks.

Turner Takes to Q School

Niall Turner produced a good second round of golf at European Tour Qualifying School at Golf D’Hardelot in France after the Muskerry man fired a 67,  including five birdies. This effort added to a first round 69 put him at six-under par and within the qualifying bracket.

Turner is four shots off leader, South Africa’s Haydn Porteous, whose carded a 62 put him 10-under par at the half-way mark.

Porteous notched nine birdies in a flawless display in Hardelot to leap to the head of affairs on ten under par, four shots clear of De Jager with a 71.

One shot off the lead were Frenchman François Delamontagne, who has 207 European Tour appearances under his belt, and Scotsman Paul Doherty, brother of Challenge Tour regular Jack, who struggled to a 76 at Frilford Heath.

Tim Rice of Limerick has a chance of making it through after his second consecutive par 71 left him in a share of 29th position.

Richard Kilpatrick may have left himself with too much to do after a second round 75 put him in a tie of 61st place with four-over par.

In the event being held at Frilford Heath in Abingdon, Irish hopes are fading with Ballybunion’s John-Daniel Guiney’s 72 leaving him on one-over for the tournament and a share of 47th place probably the best hope.

Laurie Canter continued his impressive form on day two adding a round of 70 to his opening 65 to maintain his advantage at Frilford Heath.

The former amateur star mixed five birdies with three bogeys at the Oxfordshire venue to climb to nine under par and lead by one shot from his fellow Englishmen Jack Senior (68) and Curtis Griffiths, whose six-birdie round of 67 was the joint lowest of the day. 

Griffiths’ effort was matched by Liam Bond, who led at the midway stage of the ISPS Handa Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort in August. Bond’s round of 67 carried the Welshman to six under par and gave him every chance of repeating his feat of 12 months ago, when he won the Qualifying School First Stage at Frilford Heath. 

Headfort’s Brian Casey and Mike Kelly of Kildare had rounds of 70 and 71 respectively to leave them on two-over and a share of 54th position.

Meanwhile, Galway’s Shane Franklin hit 80 in his second round to put him with little chance of qualifying.

Thomas Conran is in 101st place after his 78.

With 102 players competing at each venue this week and only the top 24 and ties progressing to the Second Stage, the competition is sure to be intense over the final two rounds.

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Turner Cut as Westwood Sets Pace

Niall Turner missed the cut in Thailand by one shot after a second round 75 left him four over par on Friday at the Amata Spring Country Club - trailing the blistering pace set by Lee Westwood on 20 under.

Westwood maintained his dazzling form at the Thailand Golf Championship on Friday, shooting a superb eight-under-par 64 to extend his lead currently at a staggering 14 shots after the morning session.

The world number three, who flirted with a 59 on Thursday before settling for a 60, produced another masterclass at the Amata Spring Country Club to match the Asian Tour’s 36-hole record of 20-under-par 124 held by Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat.

The 38-year-old produced eight birdies on a windy day in the Asian Tour’s season finale but found his greatest satisfaction with an eight-foot par save on his last hole, the ninth which kept him bogey-free over two rounds.

American John Daly, a two-time Major winner, shot a 73 for second place in the clubhouse while Simon Dyson of England and Japan’s Kenichi Kuboya are a shot back of Daly.

Westwood, chasing his fourth victory of the season and second in three weeks, looks poised to eclipse the largest winning margin on the Asian Tour of 13 shots held by Ernie Els of South Africa at the 2005 BMW Asian Open in China.

While he was ecstatic with his sparkling form, Westwood was amazed how far he was ahead of the chasing pack.

“It’s 14 now, outrageous isn’t it?” said a delighted Westwood after his round. “It’s still a long way to go. But at the same time, I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’m playing great and I’m feeling in total control. Every aspect of my game feels good.”

With a stiff breeze blowing over the highly rated par 72, 7,453-yard Amata Spring course, Westwood was in total control of his game. He felt his effort this morning could have been better than the opening round’s 60, which tied the Asian Tour’s 18-hole low.

“Strange really. Today almost felt better than yesterday. It was quite tough out there. The scoring is pretty tricky. 64 is a really good score. Not that 60 wasn’t a good score yesterday! I hit a lot of good shots again and hit it close. Delighted with two days’ work,” said Westwood.

“I’ll still try to play the same and try to win the tournament. I’ll try to keep the lead irrelevant and keep on playing as I’ve been playing. I’m playing pretty well and I want to maintain that and keep making birdies and no bogeys. The most satisfying shot of the day was making that eight or nine footer I holed at the last to keep the bogey off the card the last two days.

“It’ll be great. I won two weeks ago at the Nedbank (South Africa). I’ve got myself into a great position. It would be nice to win four times in a year.”

His rivals can only hope to play for second place now at the Thailand Golf Championship, one of four new events on the Asian Tour this season.

Daly, who shot three birdies against four bogeys, threw the white flag. “Playing for second is all I can do. If you told me somebody would be 20-under after four rounds, I would have been shocked but after two? He (Westwood) is just in the zone. He is putting it so good. Nobody is going to catch him so I think the thing for me to do is to go out and shoot under-par in the last two days. The course is not that easy. He is making it easy but it is not that easy for us,” said the American veteran.