Bowditch extends Jacob's Creek Open lead
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2005 Jacob's Creek Open | Round Two | 18 Feb 2005
Queensland’s Steven Bowditch has fired back to back 67’s to take a runaway lead of 10 under, five shots clear of his closest rivals today at the Jacob’s Creek Open being played at Royal Adelaide Golf Course.
With the cut decided at plus one, the field was reduced to 72 for the weekend with Bowditch sitting comfortably five shots ahead of the group of six players in second place including fellow Australian, WA’s Greg Chalmers and Americans Chris Tidland, Keoke Cotner, Dan Olsen, Brent Schwarzrock and Brian Kortan.
The overnight leader by one shot with American Cliff Kresge, Bowditch made the most of the better morning conditions picking up two early birdies on the back nine. A hiccup of bogeys on the 14th and 16th holes was a set back as the lead was taken by American Jason Dufner, but it was a momentary lapse for Bowditch as a run of five birdies on the final nine took him to 10 under and enviable first position as the weather turned and set up a test for the afternoon groups.
Bowditch was happy with the way he finished today.
“On the back nine I really started to hit my driver really well and got myself into some good positions and I sort of just made the most of them,” he said.
As Bowditch stepped off the 18th, the rain started to fall and the wind turned around to the typical southerly that makes Royal Adelaide infamous. Not good news for Kresge who had shared the first round lead with Bowditch. Kresge struggled in the dismal early afternoon conditions and dropped two shots to finish on minus 3 and tied for 11 at the break. The front nine saw Kresge pick up a shot and head into the 10th at 6 under, but the run home including a double bogey on the 11th and bogeys on the 17th and 18th saw him join a group of 14 on three under.
Second placed Greg Chalmers knew he was in for a test as he teed off at 11:55, right in time for the weather change.
Chalmers who started the day at 4 under, one shot behind the leaders, slipped to tenth position after successive bogeys on the 5th and 6th . Birdies on the 9th and 10th saw him move up to 6 under but a double bogey on the 12th saw him drop two shots to move back to minus three. Chalmers regained composure and steadied with three impressive birdies on the final 5 holes to finish the day at -1 and sit tied for 2nd overall on -5 others.
Chalmers was not so pleased with his round. “The way I played it, it was pretty tough – I was up and down like a yo-yo all day. I made a couple of birdies then I made couple of bogeys, I’m happy to get away with one-under to be honest. I was just a little out of rhythm today, I putted nicely though on both days and I’ve just got strike the ball a little better tomorrow.”
The next best Australasian behind Chalmers is Scott Laycock who finished even and tied for 11th on three under with a group of 13 others, including fellow Australians Nathan Green, Craig Jones, Brad Andrews, and Kurt Barnes. New Zealand’s best are David Smail and Steve Alker who are also in that group on minus 3.
Those who missed the cut include Jarrod Lyle ( 2), Peter Senior ( 3), Scott Draper ( 7) and defending champion Euan Walters who finished on 10.
Tomorrow’s third round will see a two tee start with the first groups out at 8:40am with the last group teeing off at 10:35am.
Source – PGA Tour
Photo – Anthony Powter
