Sim shares lead at Moonah Classic

BY Anthony Powter | Australasian PGA Tour | 2009 Moonah Classic | Round Two | 27 Feb 2009

Australia’s Michael Sim and Argentina’s Miguel Angel Carballo at 8-under-par share the lead at the Moonah Classic, following today’s second round.

Sim fired a bogey free, 5-under-par, 67, to take the outright lead during the morning session, a stroke ahead of Terry Pilkadaris and American, Josh Teater. Sim had started his second round at 3-under-par and tied 6th.

In contrast, Carballo was in the final group of the day, playing late into the evening and was last off the course. The Argentina was able to get his momentum going early in his round, after an eagle on his sixth hole, the 491 metre par 5, 15th, to open with a 33 for his first nine and to be followed by a 35 for the back to finish 4-under-par for the day.

Terry Pilkadaris and American, Josh Teater, enjoyed the more favourable morning condition to be a 7-under-par after rounds of 67 and 68 respectively. Teater was equal with Sim at 8-under-par coming down Moonah’s 510 metre 18th, however, his third approach fell well short of the green, resulting in a closing bogey.

A group of four, including Steven Conran, Daniel Summerhays, Hunter Haas and Peter O’Malley, are at at 6-under-par in tied 5th position. Andrew Buckel was the big mover during the second round firing the day’s low round with a 6-under-par 66, to move to tied 9th position having starting the day in tied 58th.

The Moonah Classic is developing into another fine tournament for Michael Sim after top-10 finishes at the Johnnie Walker Classic last week, where he finished just three shots behind winner Danny Lee.

The 24-year- old winner of the 2006 Palmetto Pride Classic on the Nationwide Tour feels at home on the Moonah layout and knows it well.

“I probably know the course better than most of the field,” said Sim, who was a member of the AIS squad based at Moonah Links whilst he was an amateur.

“You get to know the greens and where you can bail out. For the last eight months my ball striking has improved a lot. I’ve been hitting a lot more greens and I’ve given myself a lot more birdie putts and hitting the ball closer.”

Carballo turned profession in 2002 and during the 2008 Nationwide season made the cut in fourteen of twenty-seven starts. Winner of the 2007 Panama Championship on the Nationwide Tour, Carballo relishes in the opportunity to play creative golf, which is essential around Moonah.

“I like links style courses because you have to be creative and think each shot,” said the 30-year-old through a translator.

“I’m striking my irons well and hitting the ball close to the hole. I’m used to playing in the wind as there are many courses in Argentina where you play in similar conditions to that which where out there today.”

Overnight leaders Hunter Hass and Peter O’Malley had afternoon tee times and remain within two strokes of the leaders at 6-under-par. American Daniel Summerhays, who shared the overnight lead with Hass and O’Malley, also finished at 6-under-par.

The cut came in at even par with seventy-two players making the weekend.