Harrington ahead at Johor Open
October 16, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THREE-TIME major champion Padraig Harrington was on course for his first victory in two years by surging into the halfway lead at the Iskandar Johor Open yesterday.
Harrington carded a 5-under-par 67 in the second round for a 13-under 131 total, one stroke better then Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in Malaysia's southern Johor state.
Lin, a five-time winner in Asia, narrowly missed an eagle at the last hole to tie Harrington, but produced the day's best round of 65 amid strong winds at the Asian Tour event.
Lee Sung of South Korea shot a blemish-free 68 to finish three shots back in third place, while Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Noh Seung-yul of South Korea was a further stroke back in a tie with Singaporean Mardan Mamat and Australian Scott Hend on 135.
Harrington turned in 35 with two birdies and a dropped shot, but drained a 35-foot birdie putt on his 12th hole of the day. He sank a 25-footer for eagle at the par-five sixth. "There are a lot of birdies to be made and I've made a few eagles," Harrington said. "I've got to keep moving forward, play well and take a lead into Sunday."
Harrington hasn't won on tour since collecting his third major title at the 2008 US PGA Championship.
Lin excelled despite the afternoon winds with nine birdies against two bogeys. He hit all but one fairway and peppered the flags with crisp iron play.
In China, Australian Stephen Dartnall shot a 2-under-par 69 to move seven-under and snatch the outright lead at the halfway stage of the US$1 million Midea China Classic in Shunde, Guangdong Province.
China's Wu Kangchun shot an early 69 to set the clubhouse lead at six-under and was joined by Mitchell Brown after the 25-year-old Australian shot a bogey-free 66 at Royal Orchid International Golf Club.
American C J Gatto moved to 5-under after a 70 and lies fourth with first-round co-leaders Andre Stolz and Brad Kennedy, who each shot 72 over the 6,893-yard layout.
Former PGA Tour regular Stephen Allan (71) and fellow Australians Steve Jeffress (72) and Ashley Hall (70) share seventh a further shot back.
Defending champion Liang Wenchong disappointed his fans by bogeying two of the last three holes to return a 71 and stay three-under, in a share of 10th place.
Dartnall was level with Wu and Brown at 6-under before the 26-year-old birdied the par-five 18th to take top spot.
"It was good to finish with a birdie, but it's not such a big deal to be leading. It's only halfway, so it doesn't mean too much," Dartnall said.
Harrington carded a 5-under-par 67 in the second round for a 13-under 131 total, one stroke better then Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in Malaysia's southern Johor state.
Lin, a five-time winner in Asia, narrowly missed an eagle at the last hole to tie Harrington, but produced the day's best round of 65 amid strong winds at the Asian Tour event.
Lee Sung of South Korea shot a blemish-free 68 to finish three shots back in third place, while Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Noh Seung-yul of South Korea was a further stroke back in a tie with Singaporean Mardan Mamat and Australian Scott Hend on 135.
Harrington turned in 35 with two birdies and a dropped shot, but drained a 35-foot birdie putt on his 12th hole of the day. He sank a 25-footer for eagle at the par-five sixth. "There are a lot of birdies to be made and I've made a few eagles," Harrington said. "I've got to keep moving forward, play well and take a lead into Sunday."
Harrington hasn't won on tour since collecting his third major title at the 2008 US PGA Championship.
Lin excelled despite the afternoon winds with nine birdies against two bogeys. He hit all but one fairway and peppered the flags with crisp iron play.
In China, Australian Stephen Dartnall shot a 2-under-par 69 to move seven-under and snatch the outright lead at the halfway stage of the US$1 million Midea China Classic in Shunde, Guangdong Province.
China's Wu Kangchun shot an early 69 to set the clubhouse lead at six-under and was joined by Mitchell Brown after the 25-year-old Australian shot a bogey-free 66 at Royal Orchid International Golf Club.
American C J Gatto moved to 5-under after a 70 and lies fourth with first-round co-leaders Andre Stolz and Brad Kennedy, who each shot 72 over the 6,893-yard layout.
Former PGA Tour regular Stephen Allan (71) and fellow Australians Steve Jeffress (72) and Ashley Hall (70) share seventh a further shot back.
Defending champion Liang Wenchong disappointed his fans by bogeying two of the last three holes to return a 71 and stay three-under, in a share of 10th place.
Dartnall was level with Wu and Brown at 6-under before the 26-year-old birdied the par-five 18th to take top spot.
"It was good to finish with a birdie, but it's not such a big deal to be leading. It's only halfway, so it doesn't mean too much," Dartnall said.
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