BEIJING, April 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest
Former champions Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell endured a marathon day
to grab the second round clubhouse lead alongside in-form Peter Hanson at the
US$2.35 million Johnnie Walker Classic, Asia's richest event, on Friday.
( Photos: http://xprnnews.xfn.info/JWGC/Day2/picture1.htm
http://xprnnews.xfn.info/JWGC/Day2/picture2.htm
http://xprnnews.xfn.info/JWGC/Day2/picture3.htm )
On a day when the star-studded cast played catch-up at Pine Valley Golf
Resort and Country Club following Thursday's disruptions because of high winds,
the leading trio played 36 holes and finished atop the leaderboard on
nine-under-par 135.
Australian Adam Scott was also on nine-under, but played only eight holes
this morning to finish off his first round with a course record 63. The world
number 10 produced a stunning finish of birdie, eagle, birdie, the last with a
chip-in. He is slated to start his second round on Saturday morning.
Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol flew the Asian Tour's flag in the
tri-sanctioned event with the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australia. The
smooth-swinging Chawalit cruised to eight-under for the tournament, one off the
pace, but failed to finish his last hole of the second round when darkness
descended. Chinese Taipei's Chen Yuan-chi was a further stroke back through 14
holes of his second round.
Only 42 players completed two rounds with the remainder of the field having
to return at 6.30am on Saturday to resume their rounds.
Some of the other event's top stars sparkled, with world number eight
Sergio Garcia of Spain finishing his first round with a 67 while South Africa's
Ernie Els, the event's top draw, battled to a 71, finishing off his remaining
nine holes in three under and then saying that the change in weather was "just
crazy."
Scotsman Colin Montgomerie shot a second round 70 to lie in tied seventh
place with Thai Prayad Marksaeng and England's Miles Tunnicliff, who have two
and four holes of their second rounds to play. China's Zhang Lian-wei is tied
19th after adding a 68 to his opening 73.
Leading second round scores
(Only 42 players have completed their two rounds. The remainder of the
field will return Saturday morning to resume their second rounds).
135 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 68-67, Peter Hanson (SWE) 70-65, Michael
Campbell (NZL) 70-65
138 - Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 68-70
140 - Scott Drummond (SCO) 69-71, Peter Lawrie (IRL) 69-71,
Santiago Luna (ESP) 70-70
141 - Barry Lane (ENG) 69-72, Adam Groom (AUS) 70-71,
Richard Lee (NZL) 71-70, Trevor Immelman (RSA) 71-70,
Marcus Fraser (AUS) 71-70, Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 73-68
146 - Nick Dougherty (ENG) 70-76, Marten Olander (SWE) 76-70
The Johnnie Walker Classic is more than just a golf tournament. Along with
a week of official parties, Johnnie Walker will be raising money for the "Keep
Walking" Thailand Tsunami fund and will be promoting messages encouraging
people to drink in moderation. This includes the 15th hole, on which the
signage carries messages about responsible drinking.
For further information, please contact Burson-Marsteller at:
Holly Hu
Tel: +86-21-5403-2121 ext. 171
Fax: +86-21-5403-8589
Mobile: +86-13761683747
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE: JOHNNIE WALKER
--Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--