RYE, Australia, 20 December 2003 — Overnight leader Chris Downes maintained his one-stroke lead ahead of defending champion Steve Allan and American Ricky Barnes after yesterday’s second round of the Australian Open.
Downes fired four birdies on the back nine for a 70 and a two-round total of seven-under-par 137 after shooting a 67 on Thursday at the new Moonah Links par-72 course, about 100 km south of Melbourne.
Allan also finished with a string of birdies, picking up five shots from the 12th hole onward to shoot a six-under-par 66, the best round of the tournament so far.
The ginger-haired, fresh-faced Allan, 30, joined 2002 US Amateur champion Barnes, who entertained the crowd by pulling faces during his second consecutive 69, on six-under-par 138.
Nathan Green with a 70, Australian PGA champion Peter Senior who shot a 68 and Michael Wright who also had a 68 were equal fourth on five-under-par 139.
Australia’s Stuart Appleby, had a one-over-par 73 after his first round 69 to drop to two-under-par 142 in equal 20th place with six others including world No. 16 Robert Allenby who shot a 70.
Carry Your Own Bag, Caddie Tells Australia’s Cain
Queenslander Marcus Cain missed the Australian Open cut by seven strokes yesterday after his caddie dropped the player’s bag midway through the round and walked off.
“He had a disagreement with his caddie on the 12th hole,” Australian PGA Tour operations manager Gus Seebeck said. “His caddie resigned and handed back the bag and Cain was left to carry his own bag.”
The 30-year-old from Brisbane was able to recruit a replacement caddie later in his round but finished with an eight-over-par 80 for a two-round total of 10-over-par 154.
Ozaki Stumbles as Goda Grabs Lead in Okinawa Open
In Okinawa, Japan, Japanese legend Jumbo Ozaki was blown off course yesterday on a wind-swept second day at the $910,000 Okinawa Open as compatriot Hiroshi Goda grabbed the clubhouse lead.
Goda carded a two-over-par 74 but it was enough to move him to the top of the leaderboard with a two-day aggregate of five-under-par 139 at Southern Links Golf Club.
The 56-year-old Ozaki, winner of a staggering 112 titles in Japan, stumbled to a 79 — 16 shots worse than his opening round’s course record — to drop to joint eighth position, three off the lead. A total of 20 players did not complete their rounds due to darkness as the pace of play slowed down with players struggling to cope with strong winds. Only five players returned sub-par cards. The Okinawa Open, jointly sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
