Lonard's birdie blitz at Bridgestone

BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2008 Bridgestone Invitational | Round Two | 02 Aug 2008

A seven birdie blitz has seen Peter Lonard shoot a second round 66 to move into a share of third place at the half way mark of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational at the Firestone Country Club in Ohio.

Matching his best low round score at this event back in 2003, Lonard fired seven birdies and two bogeys to move from his overnight score of one under par to five under alongside Sean O’Hair, Zach Johnson and Lee Westwood.

The foursome sit just two shots behind tournament leader Vijay Singh after the Fijian moved to seven under with a second round score of four under 66. Singh takes a one-shot lead into the weekend at Firestone ahead of new playing partner for round three Phil Mickelson, who sits in outright second place.

Lonard though has positioned himself well heading into the weekend.

“I’m really happy with today, it’s a lot better than the 74 that I have averaged around here for the last ten years,” said Lonard after the round. “This is a course you got to hit a lot of fairways which gives you the opportunities. I hit a few fairways, hit a few greens and holed a few putts.”

Describing the course as completely different to last year, Lonard’s turn around from yesterday’s round where he bogeyed two holes on the front nine saw him take advantage of conditions he described as completely different from last year’s event, where he ultimately finished fourth after a final round 68.

“Last year the fairways were firm, the rough was a lot thicker, and the greens had a lot more bounce in them, a lot like Australian courses. This year my caddie said to me that on the 8th hole last year I hit a sand wedge in for my second, but today I hit a 4-iron.”

Exempt into this year’s field courtesy of winning the 2007 Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Championship, Lonard is playing in his seventh Bridgestone Invitational and after some time off through injuring his back, feels that he has regained his form and is enjoying his golf.

“I feel like this year – although my results probably haven’t shown it – I’ve done more work and I’m happier playing. I’m really enjoying playing, and I’m enjoying the practicing, and I think I’m on the right track again.”

Just two shots behind Lonard is the ‘Comeback Kid’ Stuart Appleby. The Victorian had an amazing turnaround since he made the first round turn at five over par in yesterday’s opening round. Scrambling home with five birdies yesterday to finish even Appleby continued his form into today’s round shooting a four under 66 to move to be one shot behind Lonard in seventh place.

“It was a bit degrading to playing the first nine holes the way I did yesterday,” said Appleby.

“Realistically I thought maybe I could get close back to par and that would be good, so to get back and make some good putts in the end to see even par I knew would have me not to far off the lead.”

“I thought, well, I’ve got momentum from that nine to going straight into the second round, being an early tee time and off I went today and played really well, played proper golf.”

Appleby put his woes down to ball position on the tee but once he straightened that out, his game flowed.

“I just had to knuckle down, kept my ball position comfortable and just hit it and just pulled that nine together. It’s been a really good run of birdies for me. That’s good stuff.”

And he’s right. In his last 27 holes the 37 year old Aussie has 11 birdies and two bogeys. He is playing in his 29th World Golf Championship event at the Bridgestone, having competed in every WGC event since its inception in 1999 and is the only player to do so.

Appleby’s best finish at a WGC event is T2 at the 2003 CA Championship. He finished T14 here last year on five over 285.

Nick O’Hern made a move up the leaderboard today with a solid two under par and sits T18 alongside fellow Aussie Geoff Ogilvy whose three under par today also moved him up from his overnight T49 position.

Rod Pamping is next on even par after shooting 70 and is T29 followed by Robert Allenby on one over.

Yesterday’s top Aussie duo Brendan Jones and Scott Strange were victims of the Firestone layout today as both shot over par, with Jones finishing with a round of 73 to drop to T45 and Strange shooting 74 and ending alongside Jones.

Brett Rumford shot even par to remain on five over for the tournament whilst Adam Scott struggled on Day 2 shooting six over 76 and finishing on five over at the end of the day. He is joined on five over by Craig Parry and Richard Green.

Aaron Baddeley’s one under was a solid performance but he has a lot of ground to make up after yesterdays nine over 79.

Mark Brown of New Zealand is at 15 over the card.

Source – PGA Tour