DP World Tour : Crown Australian Open Leaderboard Tee Times
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and new DP World Tour member Daniel Rodrigues are in a share of the lead after the second round at the Crown Australian Open, with a stellar chasing pack in close pursuit.
After high winds made scoring challenging in the opening round at Royal Melbourne, conditions proved more favourable on Friday with a host of low totals over the world-renowned Composite Course.
Denmark’s Neergaard-Petersen followed up an opening 67 by going one better to reach -9 with Rodrigues of Portugal – a recent graduate of the Qualifying School – joining him after carding a -7 64 for the low round of the day.
They lead the way from Australia’s Min Woo Lee who is one adrift at -8 after a 65 that included a hole-out eagle, with his countrymen Adam Scott and Cam Smith along with Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz two back -7 at the halfway point.
Neergaard-Petersen is riding high on confidence after earning dual membership with the PGA TOUR at the end of last season's Race to Dubai and is targeting a maiden DP World Tour title this week.
"It's been a couple of really good days," he said.
"I thought yesterday I stayed really, really patient and was able to put together a nice finish and then today I got off to a really good start and I think from there pretty much I hit a lot of really good golf shots, gave myself a lot of chances and was able to convert some of them.
Rodrigues is a new name for many having come through all three stages of DP World Tour Qualifying School to earn his playing privileges for the first time this season.He was in a tie for 33rd at last week's BMW Australian PGA Championship.
"It was really solid," he said. "It was really good. I think a -7 65 at Royal Melbourne is going to be good either way.
"It was a little bit of a rough start on six, but I made it actually a really good putt for bogey and gave me some confidence for the rest of the round and it was very good."
Asked how he is finding the initial adjustment to life on the DP World Tour, the Texas University graduate added: "Well, so far so good. I think the start in Australia has been awesome.
"It's a little bit different than what I was used to, but it's good and I'm glad I'm here."
Adam Scott, who was playing alongside Lee and Rory McIlroy in the headline three ball of the opening two rounds, made an eagle at the par five 14th for the second day in a row alongside four birdies and one bogey to post a 66.
World #2 McIlroy birdied three of his final four holes to safely progress through to the weekend at -2, with last week's winner David Puig among those to miss the cut at level par.
McIlroy said “I certainly haven’t had my best stuff over the last couple of days, but it was nice to finish the way that I did.
“It wasn’t looking great after the bogey on 14… but overall, a great finish [and] delighted to be here for the weekend.
“Seven isn’t too far back. I feel like if I can go out tomorrow morning and shoot a good one, I can get myself right back into the tournament."
edit>>>> Canada's Aaron Cockerill improved by 6 strokes 74 68 to make the cut E on the number, a relief after missing the cut last week.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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