Bransdon takes late lead at Vic PGA
BY Bruce Young | Australasian PGA Tour | 2010 Victorian PGA Championship | Round Two | 12 Feb 2010
The Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Championship has reached its halfway stage, Victorian David Bransdon making a late statement on day two with a second round of 65 to break clear of what had, until then, been a very congested leaderboard.
Bransdon stands two clear of New Zealand left hander Gareth Paddison, New South Wales’ Japan Golf Tour rookie in 2010, Kurt Barnes, and Victorian Anthony Brown.
Bransdon played in the afternoon conditions on day two and through 15 holes had moved to 8 under for the day and 13 under for the tournament. He had established a three shot lead at that point and, with the almost reachable par five 17th still to come, it appeared he could well build a substantial 36 hole lead.
The 34 year old bogeyed the 16th however and was unable to pick up a shot at the 17th, but he has the edge over a large group within four shots of this lead.
Earlier in his career Bransdon had status on the Asian then European Tours, playing full seasons in Europe in 2006 and 2007. As an amateur Bransdon won the Victorian and New South Wales Amateur Championships but while his professional career has been successful enough he has own only three smaller events in the Pacific Islands as career wins.
Always seen as a quality ball striker, an improvement in his putting has been the key for Bransdon’s showing to date this week. He paid tribute to recent assistance in that area of his game from fellow professionals Tim Elliott and Martin Doyle.
Barnes is in a great place in his professional career at present. His recent graduation to the Japan Golf Tour when earning medallist honours at the Qualifying School there has given him a significant tour on which to display his considerable talents. To top things off Barnes earned a start at the Open Championship at St Andrews at the International Final Qualifying at Kingston Heath in January and so 2010 may well offer the 2002 Australian Amateur Champion his greatest season to date in professional golf.
Paddison has battled away on the secondary Challenge Tour last year, going close to regaining his European Tour rights but an eye injury late in the season curtailed his chances for 2010. Paddison is a gifted player who as an amateur won the Canadian Amateur Championship and made the cut in the PGA Tour’s Canadian Open. A former Victorian Open winner, he now has a chance to add the Victorian PGA Championship to that title.
27 year old Anthony Brown has shown improvement in recent months finishing third at the WA Open late in 2009. His round of 66 gave him a share of the lead before Bransdon’s big finish later in the day.
Craig Scott is alone in 5th position but five players are at 8 under and with just eight shots between the cut mark of 4 under and the leader then there are still many chances for the title.
