Casas survives scares to reach matchplay semis<\/p>\n
By Bobby Alan Wilson<\/p>\n
CLARKFILED, Philippines (JP): Filipino Felix Casas survived
\ntwo rounds of thrilling matchplay golf yesterday to book a
\nsemifinal berth against Des Terblanche of South Africa in the
\nOmega Tour's Volvo Asian Matchplay at Mimosa Golf & Country Club.<\/p>\n
After defeating his close friend and compatriot Rodrigo Cuello
\nwith a three-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole of a
\nsudden-death play-off, Casas maintained his form in the afternoon
\nto overcome Englishman Ed Fryatt in the quarterfinals 4-and-3.<\/p>\n
\"It was a very close match against Rodrigo (Cuello) and it
\nfelt strange playing against such a good friend,\" said 31-year-
\nold Casas. \"And although I started well, and was three up at the
\nturn, Rodrigo came back strongly and took the lead with one to
\nplay. But I knew what I had to do to on the final hole, and after
\nmaking a good birdie putt I was confident going into the
\nplayoff.\"<\/p>\n
Casas forced the play-off with a 12 foot birdie putt on the
\n18th, before securing a place in the quarterfinals by firing a
\nsand-wedge to three foot of the pin on the first extra hole.<\/p>\n
Having taken the lead with a birdie at the first, Casas stayed
\nahead of his English rival for the remainder of the match, and
\nmade sure of victory on the15th with a par to Fryatt's bogey.<\/p>\n
Casas will meet Des Terblanche in the first semifinal. The in-
\nform South African defeated European Tour regular Peter Mitchell
\nof England 4-and-3 in the morning, before disposing of America's
\nJerry Smith 3-and-2 in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
Easy<\/p>\n
\"I was surprised to win so easily against Peter (Mitchell)
\nbecause at the start it was very close. But I was in the game on
\nevery hole except the tenth and made some really good putts,\"
\nsaid Terblanche, winner of the 1997 Sabah Masters.<\/p>\n
\"I think it was a little harder for Peter because he was
\nseeded, and therefore didn't get the chance to play the course in
\nthe first round.\"<\/p>\n
Although Mitchell did well to twice draw level over the first
\nfour holes, Terblanche was never behind against the Englishman,
\nand it was the same story in his afternoon match against Smith.<\/p>\n
He took the lead at the first with a superb 30-foot birdie,
\nand although he was only one up at the turn he drew further ahead
\nwith consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th.<\/p>\n
\"I managed to get my nose in front on the first and played
\ndecent golf from there on in, though I tried hard to stop myself
\nfrom getting overconfident because anything can happen.\" added
\nthe powerful Terblanche.<\/p>\n
\"Matchplay suits my game because I have a tendency to be a
\nlittle erratic. But in this format I can go for my shots every
\ntime without having to worry too much about making big numbers.\"<\/p>\n
The other semifinal will see a showdown between Zaw Moe of
\nMyanmar and Brett Partridge of Australia. Moe reached the
\nquarterfinal stage after defeating the 1997 Omega Order of Merit
\nchampion Mike Cunning of America by one hole, before securing
\nvictory against Scott Laycock of Australia by an identical
\nmargin.<\/p>\n
Partridge, meanwhile, made light work of his two matches,
\nwhich coincidentally were against China's top two golfers. He
\nconvincingly disposed of the defending champion Zhang Lian-wei 5-
\nand-4 in the morning, and booked his semifinal place with another
\nconfident 5-and-3 victory over Cheng Jun in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
Foursomes<\/p>\n
In the Hugo Boss Foursomes, Australia's Paul Foley and
\nAmerican Larry Barber will meet America's Gerry Norquist and
\nChristian Pena in the first second-round foursome, while Ted
\nPurdy of America and Korean Park No-seok take on Thailand's
\nPrayad Marksaeng and Peter Mitchell of England.<\/p>\n
The remaining second-round foursome will feature Scott Laycock
\nof Australia and England's Ed Fryatt against Cheng Jun and Jerry
\nSmith.<\/p>\n
Results<\/p>\n
VOLVO ASIAN MATCHPLAY - Round 2:
\n Purdy T. (USA) def. Smith J. (USA) by 2 holes
\n Terblanche D. (RSA) def. Mitchell P. (ENG) by 4-and-3
\n Casas F. (PHI) def. Cuello R. (PHI) by 1 hole
\n Fryatt E. (ENG) def. Park N. S. by 1 hole
\n Cheng J. (PRC) def. Chernock C. (USA) by 5-and-4
\n Partridge B. (AUS) def. Zhang L.W. (PRC) by 5-and-4
\n Laycock S. (AUS) def. Marksaeng P. (THA) by 1 hole
\n Moe Z. (MYN) def. Cunning M. (USA) by 1 hole<\/p>\n
VOLVO ASIAN MATCHPLAY - Quarterfinals:
\n Terblanche D. (RSA) def. Smith J. (USA) by 3-and-2
\n Casas F. (PHI) def. Fryatt E. (ENG) by 4 and 3
\n Partridge B. (AUS) def. Cheng J. (PRC) by 5-and-3
\n Moe Z. (MYN) def. Laycock S. (AUS) by 1 hole<\/p>\n
HUGO BOSS FOURSOMES - Round 1:
\n Foley P. (AUS) and Barber L. (USA) def. Kamps C. (RSA) and Percey
\nA. (AUS) by 3-and-2
\n Norquist G. (USA) and Pena C. (USA) def. Ruangkit B. (THA) and Rusnak G.
\n(USA) by 1 hole
\n Purdy T. (USA) and Park N.S. (KOR) def. Zhang L.W. (PRC) and
\nChernock C. (USA) by 3-and-1
\n Marksaeng P. (THA) and Mitchell P. (ENG) def. Cuello R. (PHI) and
\nCunning M. (USA) by 1 hole.<\/p>",
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