Taiwan’s Chan Yih-shin maintained his lead at the Macau Open yesterday, heading into the final round with a 12-under 201 for the tournament.
Chan shot a three-under 68, one stroke more than his second round. Finland’s Joonas Granberg, who on Friday equaled the course record with a 62 to pull up one behind Chan, could not capitalize as he also shot a 68.
South Korea’s Mo Joong-kyung and Rikard Karlberg of Sweden go into today’s final round tied for third on the leaderboard at 10-under for the tournament after hitting six-under 65 and three-under 68, respectively.
BMW CHAMPIONSHIP
AFP, LEMONT, ILLINOIS
Britain’s Justin Rose took a bogey on the final hole to fire a three-under 68 and settle for a share of the lead with Mark Wilson after Friday’s second round of the US PGA BMW Championship.
Wilson, an American who has already won titles in Phoenix and Hawaii this year, shot a 66 to match the Englishman atop the leaderboard at 11-under 131 after 36 holes at the penultimate event of the US PGA playoff series.
Rose, who opened with a 63, was intent on adding the US$1.44 million top prize from this week’s US$8 million tournament before worrying about next week.
Rose, who won the Memorial and National last year for his first US PGA triumph, birdied the par-four third and answered a bogey at the par-four seventh with back-to-back birdies to finish the front side.
He took another bogey at the par-four 13th, but responded with an eagle at the par-five 15th and a birdie at the par-four 16th to claim the lead, only to stumble back with a bogey at the last.
Even so, he was pleased with the day.
“You never quite know what to expect after playing so well in the first round,” Rose said. “Actually, my caddie said it’s the best round he’s seen in 20 years out there from a ball-striking perspective.
Wilson opened with his lone bogey of the day, then birdied the par-four fifth and ran off a streak of four birdies in a row ending at the par-five 11th before adding a final birdie at the par-five 15th.
A victory here would give him a spot on the Presidents Cup team and perhaps a crack at player of the year.
American Webb Simpson, the overall points leader after a victory last week, stood third on 133, one stroke ahead of Australian John Senden, who fired a 66.
Australian Robert Allenby and American Bill Haas shared fifth on 136, one stroke ahead of Aussie Geoff Ogilvy and Americans Brandt Snedeker, David Toms, Matt Kuchar and last month’s PGA Championship winner, Keegan Bradley.
VIVENDI SEVE TROPHY
AFP, PARIS
Continental Europe hit back against Great Britain and Ireland in the Vivendi Seve Trophy on Friday, cutting their overnight deficit from three points to just one after the second day of fourballs.
The European team, who have only won the tournament once, back in 2000, saw Swedish pair Alex Noren and Peter Hanson claim a dominant 5 and 3 victory over Ian Poulter and Robert Rock.
Thomas Bjorn and Raphael Jacquelin fought back from three down to snatch a half from Simon Dyson and Jamie Donaldson in the top game while Ross Fisher and Scott Jamieson lost 2 up to Nicolas Colsaerts and Matteo Manassero.
Great Britain and Ireland’s only win came when world No. 2 Lee Westwood and Mark Foster ran 5 and 3 winners over Anders Hansen and Francesco Molinari.
In the final game, Spaniards Pablo Larrazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez took a 3 and 2 victory over British Open Champion Darren Clarke and David Horsey.
The day’s action left Paul McGinley’s team with an overall lead of five-and-a-half to four-and-a-half.
“It was a good reaction,” Europe skipper Jean Van De Velde said. “I’m very happy with what I’ve seen, and the result did follow, as well.”
Westwood’s performance provided a rare bright spot for Great Britain and Ireland with the Englishman playing a remarkable approach on the eighth hole, having hit his drive under a tree.
He then managed to run the ball up onto the green and within six feet of the flag.
The resulting birdie put him and Foster one up and Westwood doubled the advantage with a 10-foot birdie putt at the next.
Foster won the 13th with a birdie but it was Westwood who secured the win with a birdie at the 14th and eagle at the next.
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