Print

Mail

wiki links

Jacquelin extends lead at BMW Asian Open

France's Raphael Jacquelin looks at his shot at the fifth hole during the second round of the Asian Open golf tournament yesterday at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club in Shanghai, China. PHOTO: AP

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin extended his lead over a high-class field on day two of the BMW Asian Open yesterday as John Daly crashed out with a second straight horror round.

The 34 year-old Jacquelin carded a three-under 69 to go into the weekend action at nine under.

He was three shots clear of South Korea's Lee Sung-Man in second place and four ahead of a big pack of players that includes Scotland's Colin Montgomerie.

World number five Ernie Els, the highest ranked player in the event, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours, had a frustrating day with the putter and was forced to settle for a second consecutive 71 to sit seven shots off the pace.

Daly, the big-hitting, charismatic crowd favorite, who was lured to China with big appearance money, was the biggest disappointment of the day.

He missed the cut by a huge margin after his 76 left him 11 over for the tournament.

"The fairways were too narrow for me," the big-hitting American told reporters. "I had nowhere to hit the golf ball. This is not even fun for me."

Jacquelin, who led by two strokes at the same stage of last week's China Open, made the most of balmy afternoon conditions to stretch his overnight advantage by two shots with a steady round that included five birdies and a couple of bogeys.

"We've been really lucky this afternoon because the wind died on the back nine," Jacquelin said.

"I'm going to play exactly the same tomorrow... if the weather stays good we're going to have to go a bit low to win so the putter's going to have to be a bit hot," the Frenchman said.

Jacquelin was second in Portugal at the start of the month and led for the first two rounds before fading in Shanghai last week, but had no real explanation for his recent improved form.

"Just 10 years on the tour maybe?" Jacquelin said, whose sole triumph on the European Tour came in Madrid two years ago.

South African Els, who won this tournament by 13 strokes in 2005, continued to struggle with his putting and carded a second 71 for a share of 18th.

"Just not making the putts out there," the South African said.

"I am playing okay, just not scoring. A little frustrating. One bogey, two birdies, a bit of a boring round really," he said.

European Tour rookie Kyron Sullivan looked to be on for a 64 after an eagle and six birdies put him eight-under for the day approaching the 18th.

However, a double bogey at the last left him at three under.

"It was a shame as I really got it going with an eagle at the fifth," the 30 year-old Welshman said. "Holed a four iron from 187 yards into the wind."

Only Liang Wenchong and Zhang Liangwei of the 18 Chinese in the field will play this weekend.
This story has been viewed 891 times.