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