Guyatt maintains Masters lead

Updated November 16, 2012 13:20:02

Queenslander Matthew Guyatt is hanging on to his Australian Masters lead ahead of New Zealand's Michael Hendry during the second round.

Guyatt followed his first-round 7-under-par 65 with a second round of 69 to sit at the top of the leaderboard at 10-under-par.

After shooting four birdies on the front nine at Kingston Heath this morning Guyatt had a hiccup with a double-bogey on the 12th and a bogey on the 14th.

Those two holes were split by a birdie on the 13th with Guyatt shooting another birdie on the 17th for a 3-under-par-round for the day.

Hendry also shot a three-under-par round to stay two shots adrift of Guyatt at 8-under.

England's Ian Poulter did not make up any ground on the pair and remained on his overnight score of 5-under-par after 18 holes.

Adam Scott has begun his second round five shots adrift of Guyatt.

Full leaderboard

Tags: golf, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, brisbane-4000, qld

First posted November 16, 2012 11:14:03

View the original article here

Mallinger maintains lead at CordeValle

Updated October 14, 2012 14:59:39

American John Mallinger, winless in seven years on the PGA Tour, fired a 1-under 70 Saturday to maintain the lead after the third round of the $5 million event in San Martin, California.

The 33-year-old had a 15-under 198 total at the CordeValle golf course. He equalled the course record 62 in the second round after opening with a 66 on Thursday.

"It was a little scrappy," said Mallinger, who has a two-shot lead.

"I didn't have my best off the tee, but I started hitting some good shots coming in. I hit a lot of good putts that just didn't fall.

"Hopefully, I can straighten out the drive and make some putts tomorrow."

Mallinger had finished second twice, including losing in a play-off to Bo Van Pelt three years ago in Milwaukee.

Sweden's Jonas Blixt was second after a 66, while Americans Charles Howell and Jason Kokrak were another stroke back at 12-under. Howell shot a 66, and Kokrak fired a 67.

Fiji's Vijay Singh and Brazil's Alexandre Rocha were 11-under after both shot 66.

The 28-year-old Blixt birdied five of the last eight holes.

He was even-par on the front nine with a birdie and a bogey. He shot up the leaderboard with birdies at 11 and 13 and then rolled in a birdie on 15 to get to 11-under.

Blixt birdied the 17th and followed with a six-foot birdie putt at 18 to finish two back. He finished third last week in Las Vegas.

"The front nine is a little harder. The back nine you can make a couple birdies," Blixt said.

"Hopefully, I can finish like I did today."

Greg Owen (68), Scott Dunlap (70), Jhonattan Vegas (71), Danny Lee (67) and Russell Knox (65) share seventh at 10-under-par 203.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted October 14, 2012 14:59:39

View the original article here

Furyk maintains lead as Woods falls back

Updated August 04, 2012 11:39:33

Jim Furyk fired a 4-under 66 to maintain his two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, while Tiger Woods is off to his worst start in four months.

Furyk reached 11-under 129 and has a two-shot lead over Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who shot a 5-under 65 at the Firestone Country Club course in Akron, Ohio.

"I thought it was key to get off to a nice start and see some putts go in," Furyk said.

"I made a good birdie putt at two, and saw some birdies go in on the front nine, good putt at nine, and off to the races."

Cabrera-Bello was alone at 9-under 131.

Former British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen also had a 65 in round two and was alone in third at 8-under.

Jason Dufner shot a 4-under 66, good for fourth at 7-under-par, while John Senden was the best of the Australians, two strokes further adrift after backing up his opening round 66 with a 70.

Seven-time winner Woods had a difficult day. He shot a two-over 72 and was tied for 44th, 13 shots behind Furyk.

Woods has had good success at the event for most of his career but has stumbled on the course at his last two attempts and needs to get his putting turned around to avoid another dismal score.

His 2-over 142 is his highest 36-hole score to par since his 3-over 145 start at the Masters.

"I get in these little spells where it's hot or cold," Woods said about his putting.

"I was a decent putter over the years, but lately it's been very streaky. I'm making everything or I make nothing."

Furyk, who opened with a 63, not only had his putter going but he saved par from the bunker four times on the back nine.

He had a nice birdie putt on the second hole and poured in a 20-foot birdie putt on the ninth.

"Making birdie at nine was like stealing one," said Furyk, who has not won since his 2010 Tour Championship victory.

"It'll be nice to relax a little bit this afternoon and maybe check out the weather forecast later on and kind of check out the weekend.

"I think the wind is supposed to pick up a little bit. If it gets breezy, the wind picks up, and the greens get faster, this place will show a little bit more teeth than we've seen so far."

Phil Mickelson shot a 69 and was 11 strokes behind after a change in putters helped pick up his game.

"I'm piecing it together," Mickelson said.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted August 04, 2012 11:39:33

View the original article here