Champ Els tips aid Nico's return in Ericsson Masters<\/p>\n
By Bobby Allen Wilson<\/p>\n
BINTAN, Riau (JP): South African Nico van Rensburg left scorch
\nmarks on the back nine at Bintan Lagoon Golf and Beach Resort
\nyesterday after taking the second round lead in the US$500,000
\nAsia-Pacific Ericsson Masters.<\/p>\n
The big hitting South African fired a 6-under-par 66, for a
\ntwo round total of 10-under-par 134, and takes the lead by one
\nshot from the Indian duo of Arjun Atwal, the overnight leader,
\nwho returned a 2-under-par 70, and Jeev Singh, who went in with a
\n69.<\/p>\n
In a joint sanctioned event between the Asian PGA's Omega Tour
\nand the PGA Tour Australasia, van Rensburg charged into
\ncontention after a birdie, birdie, eagle run starting from the
\n14th.<\/p>\n
On the 454-yard par-4 14th he hit his seven iron second shot
\nto 30 feet, making a three on what he described as the hardest
\nhole on the course. He followed that by riffling a four iron to
\n12 feet on the 193-yard par-3 15th to set up a birdie two. He
\nthen made a superb three on the 520-yard par-5 16th by hitting
\nhis three iron second shot to five feet.<\/p>\n
\"It was a great day, I hit a lot of great shots,\" said van
\nRensburg.<\/p>\n
\"A lot of things have happened in my personal life recently so
\nmy mind hasn't really been on golf,\" added van Rensburg, whose
\nmother passed away just over a month ago.<\/p>\n
\"I have played a very little golf over the past few months so
\nit's very nice to come back into a tournament and do so well.\"
\nThe 31-year-old credited this year's U.S. Open champion Ernie
\nEls, a close friend of van Rensburg, with his good form.<\/p>\n
\"Every time I see Ernie Els he gives me really constructive
\nadvice. At the Sprint International in the U.S., at the beginning
\nof August, Ernie and Robert Baker (Els' coach) gave me a lot of
\nhelp with my swing,\" said van Rensburg.<\/p>\n
\"They said I was over-swinging quite a bit and were trying to
\nget me to add more width to my swing at the bottom. Their advice
\ndid not work immediately but I have been working on it and it has
\nslowly come good.\" van Rensburg is hungry for success on the
\nOmega Tour.<\/p>\n
He won the Merlion Masters in 1995 in Singapore but failed to
\nwin last year despite finishing second once and third twice.<\/p>\n
Double bogey<\/p>\n
Atwal, 24,looked to be in control of his round until his tee-
\nshot on the 193-yard par-three 15 found water. \"I pulled my three
\niron slightly and unfortunately there was not room for error
\nthere,\" said Atwal who walked off the hole with a double bogey.<\/p>\n
The Indian player, who won two weeks ago in India in the
\nIndian Southern Open, had been 10 under for the tournament
\nuntil disaster struck on 15. He responded with a birdie four on
\nthe next to stay well in the hunt for his first Omega Tour title.<\/p>\n
Looking for his fourth Omega Tour win is Singh who is content
\nto be placed just off the lead.<\/p>\n
\"I am happy with the way I played and to be honest I would
\nrather not be in the lead at the moment,\" said Singh, who missed
\na five foot birdie putt on the last.<\/p>\n
Australian Darren Cole charged into contention with a course
\nrecord eight-under-par 64 and is in fourth place on eight under
\nfor the tournament. Australian John Senden is a shot further
\nback.<\/p>\n
Selected results:
\n 134 - Nico Van Rensburg (Rsa) 68 66
\n 135 - Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 66 69, Arjun Atwal (Ind) 65 70
\n 136 - Darren Cole (Aus) 72 64
\n 137 - John Senden (Aus) 70 67
\n 138 - Craig Kamps (Rsa) 71 67, Peter Fowler (Aus) 69 69
\n 139 - Brett Partridge (Aus) 71-68, Doug Dunakey (Aus) 68-71
\n 140 - Wayne Bradley (Rsa) 71-69, Nam Young-Woo (Kor) 71-69,<\/p>\n
Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 70-70, Robin Byrd (USA) 69-71,<\/p>\n
Jeff Senior (Aus) 67-73
\n 141 - Clay Devers (USA) 74-67, John Wade (Aus) 74-67, Des<\/p>\n
Terblanche (Rsa) 73-68, Grant Kenny (Aus) 73-68, Gavin<\/p>\n
Coles (Aus) 72-69, Charlie Wi (Kor) 71-70, Andrew Bonhomme<\/p>\n
(Aus) 70-71, Eric Rustand (Usa) 70-71, Mike Cunning (USA)<\/p>\n
70-71, Carlos Espinosa (Mex) 68-73
\n 142 - Ted Purdy (USA) 74-68, Lucas Parsons (Aus) 74-68, Boonchu<\/p>\n
Ruangkit (Tha) 72-70, Scott Laycock (Aus) 72-70, Mark<\/p>\n
Allen (Aus) 72-70, David Diaz (Aus) 71-71<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/champ-els-tips-aid-nicos-return-in-ericsson-masters-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }