Schwartzel bombs out in Perth

Updated October 19, 2012 22:24:53

Argentinean Emiliano Grillo became the man to catch at the Perth International as 2011 US Masters winner Charl Schwartzel crashed out in an intriguing second round at Lake Karrinyup on Friday.

Schwartzel shot five bogeys in a disastrous front nine and pushed a crunch five-foot putt on the final hole wide to miss the two-over cut by one stroke.

Former world number three Paul Casey also had a shocker, but his first-day heroics ensured he would be there for the weekend.

Casey started Friday in a tie for fourth at 5-under, and took a share of the lead early after a solid start to his round.

But after dropping five strokes in a horror six-hole stretch, Casey finished at 3-over for the round to lose touch with the leading pack.

There were no such problems for world number 516 Grillo, who is outright leader at 11-under after recording a 5-under 67 in his afternoon grouping.

The 20-year-old's highlight was on the 344 metre par-four ninth, when he holed a 96m sand wedge to post his second eagle of the day.

"I didn't see it because you cannot see the green from down there," Grillo said of the magical shot.

"But as soon as I heard the crowd, I was very happy with my caddie."

American Bo van Pelt and West Australian Jason Scrivener sit four shots off the pace at 7-under, with world number 10 Jason Dufner lurking dangerously at 6-under.

Van Pelt's last visit to Australia was a forgettable one, with the 37-year-old missing the cut when he played in Adelaide nine years ago.

"I was just kind of chuckling inside hoping that I didn't come over here and lay an egg like I did last time," van Pelt said.

Overnight leader Michael Hendry joins Max McCardle, Dufner and Spain's Alejandro Canizares in equal fourth, but the Kiwi was left ruing three bogeys on the back nine.

Schwartzel said he was disappointed to miss the cut.

"It was a pretty much straightforward putt and it bounced out of line," Schwartzel said.

"Nothing I can do about it.

"I figured if I could have just made the cut, you can still win the tournament.

"I don't think with the greens getting so firm the winning score is going to be that low.

"I'm disappointed the way I've played, but I've had a great time.

"It's a great city, and I would like to come back to redeem myself."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted October 19, 2012 22:24:53

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Van Pelt wins Perth title

Updated October 21, 2012 22:00:32

American golfer Bo Van Pelt clinched victory in the Perth International tournament with a final round of 4-under 68 to beat countryman Jason Dufner by two shots.

Van Pelt from Oklahoma and Alabaman Dufner were the last group out and in virtual matchplay conditions both men played attacking golf trying to win the title.

Van Pelt started the day one shot ahead on 12-under and he put the pressure straight on his rivals, scoring two birdies in the opening three holes.

Dufner also birdied the third to stay in touch and then made his move with three birdies - and a bogey - in four holes from the par-5 seventh.

"Jason played well and put some pressure on me a couple of different times during the round," Van Pelt admitted to Grandstand.

"I knew it was going to be a tough day to get to victory and it was close right there at the end.

"He got within one and I'd say probably the difference was the par-5s.

"I played them really well the last three days and that was probably the difference from me going and getting the victory."

Van Pelt kept in control with birdies at the seventh, 10th and 11th to go 5-under for the day.

A two-shot swing at the par-4 14th kept the contest alive, as Dufner birdied the hole and the leader faltered for a five.

But the contest appeared over on the 16th as Dufner missed a straightforward par putt to fall three shots back with two to play.

The leader bogeyed the 17th to leave an outside chance of an upset, before giving himself a long birdie putt from the front of the final green.

Dufner hit his approach to 20-feet but left his birdie putt short, before Van Pelt sank his par putt to take out the tournament.

Spaniard Alejandro Canizares came home with a flourish, shooting a 5-under 31 on the back nine to take third place with a round of 68 and a total of 11-under.

Argentina's Emiliano Grillo (73) and New Zealand's Michael Hendry were two shots further back on 9-under.

Defending Australian Open winner Greg Chalmers was in the hunt for a top-three finish, but a double-bogey on the 16th and bogey on the 17th saw him tumble to 10th at 7-under.

"I wish I could have one swing back - the tee shot off the 16th when I made a double bogey," Chalmers said after shooting a 1-under 71 in his final round.

"I figured out after nine holes today I was never going to win the tournament.

"But I was in a good position to have a top-three or top-five position, and I blew it over the last few holes."

Former world number three Paul Casey produced one of the best rounds of the day, shooting a 5-under 67 to make a surge up the leaderboard.

But his 3-over 75 on Friday cost him any real chance of victory, with the Englishman forced to settle for a tie for fifth at 8-under along with Grillo, Scott Jamieson, Rhys Davies and David Howell.

ABC/AAP

Tags: golf, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted October 21, 2012 20:22:16

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Van Pelt takes lead at Perth International

Updated October 20, 2012 21:58:47

Argentinean Emiliano Grillo showed his first real signs of nerves as powerhouse American duo Jason Dufner and Bo van Pelt made their charge at the Perth International.

Grillo started the day with a four-stroke lead over West Australian Jason Scrivener and world number 24 van Pelt, and at one point increased his buffer to five shots before four bogeys on the back nine saw him surrender the lead.

Van Pelt ended the day on top of the pack at 12-under-par after a 5-under 67, while world number 10 Dufner carded the same score to be just one shot adrift of his countryman.

Grillo, at just 20 years of age and ranked a lowly 516th in the world, is third at 10-under and will need to regain his magic touch on Sunday if he is to snare his first professional win.

England's David Howell and Spain's Alejandro Canizares sit in equal fourth at 7-under, while defending Australian Open winner Greg Chalmers, Kiwi Michael Hendry and big-hitting Aussie Steve Jones are one stroke further back.

Chalmers, who shot a 3-under 69 to move within striking distance of the leaders, hoped for windy conditions on Sunday to boost his chances of snaring an unlikely victory.

"I think it's doable," Chalmers said of chasing down the leading pack.

"No one's torn up this golf course yet, and I think there's a seven-under out there or an eight-under if you drive the ball in play and things go your way.

"You have to tear the par-fives up and most of them are reachable at the moment.

"If you can do that and pick up two or three more somewhere else, you're going to have a big day."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted October 20, 2012 20:54:06

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Perth to host Australia's richest golf event

Updated December 07, 2011 18:14:41

Perth will host the most lucrative golf tournament in Australia when it stages the inaugural $2 million Perth International Championship next year.

Backed by the Western Australian government under a three-year agreement, the tournament is to be co-sanctioned by the European and Australasian tours and played at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

The event puts Perth back on the international golf map, following on from the Heineken Classic, Johnnie Walker Classic and Lexus Cup staged in recent years.

Owned and promoted by international sports management company IMG, the Perth International should draw a strong field of overseas stars to battle the Australians through its connection with the European tour.

PGA Tour of Australasia chief executive Brian Thorburn welcomed the event as another boost for Australian golf after a big season highlighted by the Presidents Cup.

"The PGA Tour of Australasia is delighted to add the Perth International Golf Championship to its 2012 schedule and look forward to welcoming the European Tour and its players back to Australia," Thorburn said.

"Perth has a proud history of staging world-class golf tournaments and following on from one of Australia's most successful golf seasons ever, we look forward to working with all parties to grow this prestigious tournament."

European tour chief operating officer Keith Waters welcomed his tour's return to Western Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

"Returning to Australia, and the city of Perth in particular, will further enhance the global nature of the European Tour," Waters said.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted December 07, 2011 18:14:41

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