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