Casas survives scares to reach matchplay semis

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.