Rock solid in Italy
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2011 BMW Italian Open | Day Two | 11 Jun 2011
England’s Robert Rock has edged clear of a congested leaderboard to take the halfway lead at the BMW Italian Open in Turin.
Rock added a second round of 68 to his brilliant 64 yesterday and leads by one over Joost Luiten of the Netherlands and England’s Chris Wood with the group of six players another shot further back including the pre tournament favourites Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manssero.
The 34 year old Rock is still seeking his first European Tour victory, his best previous opportunity coming when beaten in a playoff for the 2009 Irish Open. He played well early this season in South Africa, recording top tens at both the Alfred Dunhill and South African Open Championships there but although he has made a lot of cuts since he has never genuinely contended.
Rock does however have a start at next week’s US Open courtesy of Sectional Qualifying in England so it will be a rushed trip between Turin and Washington DC on Sunday night – hopefully for him with his maiden European title safely in his keeping.
Brett Rumford is the best of the Australians through 36 holes in a share of 10th position after a second round of 66. Daniel Gaunt and Marcus Frasers are amongst a group in 21st position, the highlight for Fraser coming at the 4th hole where he holed in one.
Wade Ormsby and Scott Strange have just made the cut on the number eight shots from the lead.
US Open qualifier in Ohio on Monday, Scott Hend, who rushed to Turin and recorded a round of 68 yesterday was round in 75 today and has missed the cut. The only upside of that is that he will head back to the US early to prepare for his third US Open start.
