Clarke looking for historic double
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2009 KLM Open | Round Two | 22 Aug 2009
Darren Clarke has an opportunity to become the first player in more than 30 years to successfully defend his KLM Open (Dutch Open) title after opening rounds of 65 and 67 have him in a share of the lead with Sweden’s Peter Hedblom.
Clarke clearly has a liking for the Kennemer Golf and Country Club on the coast near Zandvort in the north of the Netherlands. Clarke won last year’s event at the same venue by a massive four shots over Paul McGinley. Since his victory, Clarke has recorded only one top ten but this superb links layout amongst the coastal sand dunes has provided the inspiration for a return to form.
Hedblom has also recaptured form. Outside the top 200 in the world ranking and with little to show for his efforts this season, he has made an encouraging start to an event in which he missed the cut at his last start in 2007.
In a share of third place and only one behind at the halfway stage of the event are Bradley Dredge, Kenneth Ferrie, Oskar Henningsson, Peter Lawrie and the leading Australian Wade Ormsby.
Ormsby has returned to the European Tour in 2009 following a season on the Nationwide Tour in the US. In order to do so he was required to regain his card at the European Tour School last year which he did by finishing runner up. With a best of 15th in 20 starts this season he has struggled but he has this week created a good opportunity to put things right.
Next best of the Australasians is Terry Pilkadaris in 8th position but only two from the lead, Richard Green is 23rd, Marcus Fraser 43rd, with Mark Brown and Peter O’Malley 57th.
