England's Parker surges at Australian Amateur
IN: News | Australian Mens Amateur | Australian Amateur Championship (2007) | by Anthony Powter | 23 Mar 2007
Ben Parker has produced one of his best ever rounds during the second day of the Australian Amateur with a five under 65 to finish at 8 under. His effort has elevated the English elite squad member to a four shot margin over Jordan Sheratt and Andrew Dodt, who share second position at 4 under. A group of four others are bunched at 2 under including Michael Foster, Scott Arnold, Gill James and Lloyd Saltman from Scotland.
Parker, who plays out of Royal Birkdale, is accustomed to playing windy conditions and savoured the opportunity to play what all competitors are regarding as a simply stunning layout.
"I probably played one of the best rounds ever today. My chipping and putting kept me in there. NSW reminds me a bit of my home course at Royal Birkdale, I was able to adapt to the conditions out there this morning and it work in my favour. It's simply an amazing layout and a superb test of golf."
Parker joins the whole English elite squad, who made the cut despite been slotted into later tee times on the first day and exposed to the difficult conditions. The English players rightfully have smiles on their faces this evening on what is a great team effort. The focus for them and every other player now is on making the top 32 match play cut on Sunday.
As anticipated, a number of strategic moves occurred during the second round, the most notable from Rudi Bezuidenhout, who resurrected his position in the championship by a massive 105 places in a single round following a 63 to finish in equal 10th moving into the weekend.
Bezuidenhout is a perennial competitor having played all the main amateur tournaments throughout the world, often with mixed success. Bezuidenhout, who is ranked 183 in the world, is a dedicated player to the game and thrives on competition. Today's low round has placed him right into contention for the Australian Medal as well as the championship proper, in what will hopefully be his maiden major amateur victory.
Michael Foster is a player bursting with talent, having virtually played into contention in all the major Australian amateur events this summer, including three top 10 finishes in national events. Foster, who was runner up in the 2005 Kemper Bowl, like Bezuidenhout, is certainly on the verge of claiming a major title. His consistency has attracted attention reflected again today by his move from 17th to T4th with two rounds of 69, to be four under and four shots adrift of the second round leader.
Rick Kulacz and Aaron Pike will be thanking their respective putters after scraping into the top 70 and ties. Both are at 8 over and will need to make a move by Sunday to be around for the match play starting Monday. The cut was 8 over and they have the benefit of early starts tomorrow and the opportunity to get back into contention in the championship to make the top 32 come Sunday.
Justin Roach, who lost in a playoff to Blake McGrory at the Belmont International earlier in the year, was another standout today following a 69 to move into T8th along with overnight joint leader Josh Younger. McGrory was an unfortunate casualty at this championship along with well known Australian players Rika Batibasaga and John Fitzgerald, who missed the cut.
Parker is ranked 103rd in the world and has previously tasted major amateur victory both in Australian and in America. The plus 4 marker won both the 2005 Orange Bowl in the US (previous winners included Tiger Woods, Jose Maria Olazabal, Bob Tway and Mark Calcavecchia) and the 2006 Tasmanian Open. He should not be discounted at this championship.
With a commanding four shot lead over the rest of the field going into the weekend, Parker appears to have taken the upper hand at this championship. Then again with the depth of competition and the idiosyncrasies of the NSW layout, no one can presume anything and no one is.
Photo - EGU/Tom Ward
