Aussies rule Dunhill golf c'ship as RI makes it four

Aussies rule Dunhill golf c'ship as RI makes it four

JAKARTA (JP): Australian Craig Parry leads his countrymen in dominating the half-way stage of the $400,000 Alfred Dunhill Masters golf championship, in which four Indonesians survived the cut at 144 yesterday.

Parry, who renewed his partnership with brother Glenn, acting as his caddie, fired eight brilliant birdies for a 7-under 65 and soared to the lead of the field of 120 with a two-day total of 13-under par 131.

Indonesia's best hopes, Budiono from Bali, Kasiyadi from Surabaya, West Java's Maan Naasim, and Ilyasyak, made it through the third round and are hoping for a share of the substantial cash prizes.

Budiono carded two-under 142, Kasiyadi notched an identical score, Maan collected 143 and Ilyasyak made it even par 144.

Going into today's penultimate round, Parry, 29, has an easy 131, three shots ahead of Michael Campbell of New Zealand and four clear of Greg Chalmers and Chris Gray, both from Australia, who shared third place.

"I holed just about everything I looked at," said Parry after posting a dazzling 65 to improve on the course record of 66 he jointly set just 24 hours earlier.

Like Parry, 26-year-old Maori Campbell fired a 65, made up of eight birdies and a solitary bogey. Sweden's Mathias Gronberg, joint overnight leader with Parry and Paul Gow of Australia, maintained his quest for top honors with a solid round of 70 to put him in fifth position on 136.

Gow dropped out of the picture with a 78, while fellow Australians Glenn Joyner and Evan Droop carded a score of 68 and 69 respectively to move into a tie for sixth spot at 137 with Welshman Mark Mouland.

But it was not such a good day for Mouland's compatriot, Ian Woosnam. Joint fourth after a 67 in the first round, Woosnam twice had trouble with water hazards as he struggled to even-par 72 in the morning heat, before late afternoon thunder and lightning forced play to be stopped for 15 minutes with eight flights still to finish.

Of the other big name stars, Vijay Singh made a birdie at the 18th for his second consecutive even par-72, to ensure he qualified for the final two rounds.

Germany's Alexander Cejka, winner of last week's Volvo Masters in Spain, and defending Alfred Dunhill Masters champion Jack Kay of Canada, both failed to survive the half-way cut for the leading 60 players and failed to make the ties, which came at 144.

Cejka finished on 147 after a 75, while Kay scored 149 following a 74. Also making an early exit was Ian Baker-Finch of Australia, whose barren spell continued. He ended with an ignominious triple bogey seven at the 18th for a 77 and a two- round score of 150. (rsl)

Selected results 131 - Craig Parry (Aus) 134 - Michael Campbell (Nzl) 135 - Greg Chalmers (Aus), Chris Gray (Aus) 136 - Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 137 - Glen Joyner (Aus) Evan Droop (Aus), Mark Mouland (Gbr) 138 - Gavin Coles (Aus) David Podlich (Aus), Grant Kenny (Aus), Jeev M Singh (Ind), Stuart Appleby (Aus) 139 - Ian Woosnam (Gbr), David Diaz (Aus), Hsieh Yu-shu (Tpe), Russel Swanson (Aus), Darren Cole (Aus), Danny Zarate (Phi) 140 - Rodrigo Cuello (Phi), Gaurav Ghei (Ind), Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 141 - Stephen Leaney (Aus), Robert Farley (Aus), David Bransdon (Aus), Andrew Bonhome (Aus), Simon Owen (Nzl), Sven Struver (Ger), Shane Robinson (Aus), Doug Dunakey (USA), Mark Allen (Aus), ... 142 - Budiono (Ina) 143 - Kasiyadi (Ina), Maan Naasim (Ina) 144 - Ilyasyak (Ina), Vijay Singh (Fij)