Geoff Ogilvy has a one-stroke lead heading into the weekend as he hunts for his maiden Australian Open title.
The 33-year-old began the second round at four under before starting his run at the short par-4 13th, his 4th hole of the day. Birdie there plus another four before returning to the halfway house had him out in 32 and sharing the lead with visiting American Dudley Hart.
Ogilvy made the most of the good scoring conditions at The Lakes Golf Club by adding another two birdies in a mistake-free round of 65 to grad sole possession of the lead at 11 under.
Geoff Ogilvy lines up a putt during his round of 65 on day two of the Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Club
The 2006 US Open champion says he is playing well and winning the Open would be nice.
“It is a tournament we all want to win as Australians,” he said. “I played well at Victoria but I didn’t make any putts. I did not walk away from there with any disappointment at all. I knew I had played well and practised pretty hard, for me, the last couple of weeks.
“You’d rather be in front after two rounds than not in front. I like the way I am playing. I snuck away with a shot or two when I finished yesterday. Today I could not have had anymore.
“If I keep playing like that, I’m sure I’ll be there or thereabouts.”
The north-easterly winds got stronger during the afternoon making scoring a little more difficult for the players in the second half of the draw.
First round leader Matt Griffin, from Victoria, added a two under 70 to his opening 65 to reach the halfway stage in third place, two strokes adrift of Ogilvy.
The big second round move came from Matt Jones, the 30-year-old from Sydney’s southern suburbs who finished 63rd on the PGA Tour money list in 2010. Jones carded a new course record eight-under-par 64 in the blustery afternoon conditions. His stellar round included eight birdies and no bogies, with just 26 putts required for the 18 holes.
“I had a great day,” Jones said. “I hit it well. I actually worked on the range with my coach (Gary Barter) before I played. We figured something out and went out there and used it and played well.”
And the wind?
“I saw what they shot this morning. Adam and Geoff went really low,” he said. “I don’t know if they had the wind I had this afternoon.
“I made a few putts and a couple of good par saving putts to keep the round going. If I don’t make them, who knows what happens? It was good out there. I played great. I’ll take it.”
After starting the second round in nearly 100th place, reigning Open champion Scott ensured he would continue his defence of the title over the weekend by shooting a six under 66 to be in a group of 11 players at three under including Adam Bland, Marcus Fraser and US player Bobby Gates.
Presidents Cup captains Greg Norman and Fred Couples had mixed fortunes on day two.
Norman, after opening with a rusty two over 74, had three birdies on the front nine to move into red numbers for the first time in the championship. Two bogies early on the homeward side were offset by birdies at the long par-4 12th and the par-3 15th. He then parred home for a three under 69 and will start the third round 10 shots behind leader Ogilvy.
Couples, however, could not get his putter working over the first two rounds and despite missing just eight greens in regulation in 36 holes, he finished one shot outside the cut line.
John Daly seemingly lost interest over the latter stages of his second round and was able to turn a solid round into a 77 and an early departure from The Lakes.
Dual Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley was frustrated for much of his second round. Having opened the tournament with a 71, some wild driving and a cold putter conspired to send Badds packing after two rounds.
Other high-profile players to miss the cut at one over par included Brett Rumford (three over), former champion Steve Allan (six over) and Brad Hughes (eight over).
Visiting Thai player Phatlum Pornpong would have liked his chances in the Open after starting with a birdie at his 1st hole on day one. It wasn’t to be however, as he went on to miss the cut by 26 shots – shooting 88, 83, which included 15 bogies, six double bogies and 14 pars. Now that’s a tough week at the office!
With the early groups already out on the course for the third round, organisers are again looking to the skies hoping the forecast of rain doesn’t ring true.