Swede David Lingmerth mastered windy conditions to hold a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the European Tour cosanctioned Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast yesterday.
Lingmerth carded six birdies in his four-under 68 to lead a group of six golfers, including South African overnight leader Zander Lombard, after 36 holes.
World No. 57 Lingmerth appeared to be one of few golfers with a good handle on the new-look course and the buffeting conditions.
“I know that I’ve won on the PGA Tour, probably the strongest tour in the world and I know I can do it,” Lingmerth said.
“Of course that gives me some confidence going into the weekend, but at the same time, these are all players that can shoot seven, eight-under, both rounds out there over the weekend,” he said.
“I’m going to have to play very well to win, but I do feel like I should have a good shot,” he said.
South African pair Dylan Frittelli and Lombard, Englishman Mark Foster, American Peter Uihlein, Spain’s Pablo Martin Benavides and Australian Matthew Millar were one off the lead.
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