Casas survives scares to reach matchplay semis
By Bobby Alan Wilson
CLARKFILED, Philippines (JP): Filipino Felix Casas survived two rounds of thrilling matchplay golf yesterday to book a semifinal berth against Des Terblanche of South Africa in the Omega Tour's Volvo Asian Matchplay at Mimosa Golf & Country Club.
After defeating his close friend and compatriot Rodrigo Cuello with a three-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole of a sudden-death play-off, Casas maintained his form in the afternoon to overcome Englishman Ed Fryatt in the quarterfinals 4-and-3.
"It was a very close match against Rodrigo (Cuello) and it felt strange playing against such a good friend," said 31-year- old Casas. "And although I started well, and was three up at the turn, Rodrigo came back strongly and took the lead with one to play. But I knew what I had to do to on the final hole, and after making a good birdie putt I was confident going into the playoff."
Casas forced the play-off with a 12 foot birdie putt on the 18th, before securing a place in the quarterfinals by firing a sand-wedge to three foot of the pin on the first extra hole.
Having taken the lead with a birdie at the first, Casas stayed ahead of his English rival for the remainder of the match, and made sure of victory on the15th with a par to Fryatt's bogey.
Casas will meet Des Terblanche in the first semifinal. The in- form South African defeated European Tour regular Peter Mitchell of England 4-and-3 in the morning, before disposing of America's Jerry Smith 3-and-2 in the afternoon.
Easy
"I was surprised to win so easily against Peter (Mitchell) because at the start it was very close. But I was in the game on every hole except the tenth and made some really good putts," said Terblanche, winner of the 1997 Sabah Masters.
"I think it was a little harder for Peter because he was seeded, and therefore didn't get the chance to play the course in the first round."
Although Mitchell did well to twice draw level over the first four holes, Terblanche was never behind against the Englishman, and it was the same story in his afternoon match against Smith.
He took the lead at the first with a superb 30-foot birdie, and although he was only one up at the turn he drew further ahead with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th.
"I managed to get my nose in front on the first and played decent golf from there on in, though I tried hard to stop myself from getting overconfident because anything can happen." added the powerful Terblanche.
"Matchplay suits my game because I have a tendency to be a little erratic. But in this format I can go for my shots every time without having to worry too much about making big numbers."
The other semifinal will see a showdown between Zaw Moe of Myanmar and Brett Partridge of Australia. Moe reached the quarterfinal stage after defeating the 1997 Omega Order of Merit champion Mike Cunning of America by one hole, before securing victory against Scott Laycock of Australia by an identical margin.
Partridge, meanwhile, made light work of his two matches, which coincidentally were against China's top two golfers. He convincingly disposed of the defending champion Zhang Lian-wei 5- and-4 in the morning, and booked his semifinal place with another confident 5-and-3 victory over Cheng Jun in the afternoon.
Foursomes
In the Hugo Boss Foursomes, Australia's Paul Foley and American Larry Barber will meet America's Gerry Norquist and Christian Pena in the first second-round foursome, while Ted Purdy of America and Korean Park No-seok take on Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Peter Mitchell of England.
The remaining second-round foursome will feature Scott Laycock of Australia and England's Ed Fryatt against Cheng Jun and Jerry Smith.
Results
VOLVO ASIAN MATCHPLAY - Round 2: Purdy T. (USA) def. Smith J. (USA) by 2 holes Terblanche D. (RSA) def. Mitchell P. (ENG) by 4-and-3 Casas F. (PHI) def. Cuello R. (PHI) by 1 hole Fryatt E. (ENG) def. Park N. S. by 1 hole Cheng J. (PRC) def. Chernock C. (USA) by 5-and-4 Partridge B. (AUS) def. Zhang L.W. (PRC) by 5-and-4 Laycock S. (AUS) def. Marksaeng P. (THA) by 1 hole Moe Z. (MYN) def. Cunning M. (USA) by 1 hole
VOLVO ASIAN MATCHPLAY - Quarterfinals: Terblanche D. (RSA) def. Smith J. (USA) by 3-and-2 Casas F. (PHI) def. Fryatt E. (ENG) by 4 and 3 Partridge B. (AUS) def. Cheng J. (PRC) by 5-and-3 Moe Z. (MYN) def. Laycock S. (AUS) by 1 hole
HUGO BOSS FOURSOMES - Round 1: Foley P. (AUS) and Barber L. (USA) def. Kamps C. (RSA) and Percey A. (AUS) by 3-and-2 Norquist G. (USA) and Pena C. (USA) def. Ruangkit B. (THA) and Rusnak G. (USA) by 1 hole Purdy T. (USA) and Park N.S. (KOR) def. Zhang L.W. (PRC) and Chernock C. (USA) by 3-and-1 Marksaeng P. (THA) and Mitchell P. (ENG) def. Cuello R. (PHI) and Cunning M. (USA) by 1 hole.