Derksen leads JWC as Norman off the pace
BY Bruce Young | Asian Tour | 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic | Round One | 19 Feb 2009
The more things changed the more they stayed the same. That was the case for the afternoon field at the Johnnie Walker Classic at the Vines Resort in Perth’s Swan Valley with many players moving up the leaderboard early in the afternoon. Ultimately however only one player would challenge the respective brilliant morning rounds of 64 and 65 recorded by the Netherland’s Robert Jan Derksen and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat.
Queensland’s Tony Carolan took until 7:25pm to record his final birdie of the day at the par five 9th and he had moved within one of Derksen’s lead.
At the end of a day where conditions remained consistently good for both sides of the draw, Derksen led Mamat and Carolan by one and Lee Westwood, John Bickerton and Damien McGrane by two. That is the way the leaderboard had looked at 1.30 pm and apart from Carolan that was the way it would look when the final few players completed their rounds at 7.30pm.
Interestingly Carolan had also started well in the opening round of this event here in 2006 with a 66 and although the Vines is in a slightly different configuration in 2009, he clearly enjoys the venue.
“I was very patient today but the near albatross and short putt for eagle at my 9th (the 18th) triggered the round,” said Carolan. “I was thinking about it even before I got here,” he said when reminded of his good start in 2006.
Other moves of significance from the afternoon field came from Colin Montgomerie who appeared to enjoy the attention of a group of fans keen to bolster his spirits. He played along with them and it was a very relaxed and almost jocular Montgomerie who signed for a round of 67.
Last week’s Malaysian Open winner Anthony Kang did well to follow up such an historic week with an opening round of 67 in the afternoon, while two of the pre tournament favourites, Anthony Kim and Ian Poulter, were round in 68 although they were unable to place any real pressure on those ahead.
Tomorrow morning might provide a different story however as they get the best of the greens and hopefully the conditions and can take some ground off the leaders.
Greg Norman had 75 and it seems he will need a round of 68 or better tomorrow if he is to have any chance of playing the weekend and Camilo Villegas kept his hopes alive with an eagle at his final hole for a round of even par 72 but he too will need something solid tomorrow, especially playing in the in the afternoon field.
