England's Nick Faldo hits 63 for a new course record
JAKARTA (JP): England's world number three Nick Faldo overcame the heat and the layout to fire a blistering eight under-63 and set a course record at the half-way stage of the Alfred Dunhill Masters golf championship at the Bali Golf and Country Club yesterday.
It was a memorable display of stroke-making from the Englishman, whose round included nine birdies and a bogey, which shattered the course record by three strokes.
"I'm enjoying myself. I'm trying to come out and play aggressively and keep good tempo with my putting stroke," said Faldo, whose only swing thought was to keep the left knee passive. "Now the ball is heading in the right direction!" he added.
Joint overnight leader after a 67 on Thursday, Faldo left his rivals trailing distantly in his wake with his lowest round since the 1993 British Open at Royal St George's in Kent.
Faldo has a 36-hole aggregate of 130 -- 12 under par -- and leads by fewer than seven shots from Australian Craig Parry, the number one player on the Australasian PGA Tour's Order of Merit, who is making his return to competitive action after a six-week break.
American Pat Burke is third at 138 after a 70 with Canadian Jack Kay a further stroke back in fourth following a 66, a round bettered only by Faldo.
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, the European number one, suffered more than most in the intense heat and humidity. One shot off the pace after an opening 68, he slipped to a 75, which included a seven at the 405-yard par-four 10th, where he pulled his second shot on the cart path.
"I think I hit the road at the 7th. I think I three putted. I never knew how tired I could be ..."
Nevertheless, Montgomerie comfortably survived the 36-hole cut for the leading 60 players and ties which came at 146, four over par.
Faldo was in irresistible form. Swinging freely he set up repeated birdie opportunities with pinpoint iron shots. He single-putted on 10 holes and had a total of just 26 putts.
His performance has put Faldo on course for a unique Alfred Dunhill double. Earlier this year he won the Alfred Dunhill Open at Royal Zoute in Belgium in June.
Parry, who shot a second round of 67, conceded that Faldo will not be easy to catch. Said Parry: "Although I shot 67 and lost ground, it's not frustrating because I feel I'm gaining momentum.
"To catch Faldo you've got to hope the weather is bad and he doesn't play as well as he has. Then I've got to go out and shoot 12 under for the next two rounds. It's now up to him."
Selected results
130 - Nick Faldo (GB) 67 63 137 - Craig Parry (Aus) 70 67 138 - Patrick Burke (USA) 68 70 139 - Jack Kay (Can) 73 66 140 - Neil Kerry (Aus) 70 70
David Frost (SAF) 70 70
Lu Chien-soon (Tai) 69 71
Richard Lee (NZe) 73 67 141 - Ilyasak (Ina) 70 71
Grant Moorhead (NZe) 72 69
Mike Cunning (USA) 67 74
Michael Campbell (NZe) 71 70 142 - Shane Robinson (Aus) 70 72
Peter Teravainen (USA) 71 71
Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 69
Robert Willis (Aus) 73 69
Shane Tait (Aus) 69 73
Andre Stolz (Aus) 69 73
Nico van Rensburg (SAF) 69 73
Michael Clayton (Aus) 71 71
Russel Swanson (Aus) 68 74 143 - Colin Montgomorie (Scot) 68 75 145 - Vijay Singh (Fiji) 75 70 146 - Sukamdi (Am Ina) 75 71
Budiono (Ina) 74 72
Buari (Ina) 74 72