South African Tim Clark leads Masters, Robert Allenby looms as major threat
November 28, 2008

AUSTRALIAN Masters favourite Robert Allenby positioned himself for a strong weekend tilt at a third gold jacket on Friday, picking up five shots in his last six holes.

The Victorian, who won the event in 2003 and 2005, returned a six-under-par 66 to reach the halfway stage five under, just two shots behind South African leader Tim Clark.

Allenby credited a mid-round alteration to his putting routine for his late run and said it heralded good things for the weekend.

"Every putt from then on either went in or looked like it was going in," he said.

"I'm excited that part of my game feels really good, because if that part of my game is good I can do anything."

New South Welshman Anthony Summers, who shot 68 on Friday, and West Australian Michael Sim (66) were tied for second on six under.

Summers, who tied for 10th at Huntingdale last year in his best finish in an Australasian PGA Tour event, at one stage took the outright lead at eight under par.

He bogeyed two of his last three holes and missed a good birdie chance in between to slip back, but said he relished the rare experience of leading such a big event, co-sanctioned with the European Tour.

"I really enjoyed it, I was comfortable, things did not get the better of me, I dropped a couple of shots late but they were tough holes," he said.

But Allenby, one of seven players tied for fourth, looked best placed to challenge Clark, given his local knowledge, impressive record in Australia and strong and consistent form in the United States this year.

"I know that if I keep playing the way I did for the last five or six holes, I'll be right there on Sunday," Allenby said.

Consistent Queenslander Rod Pampling (71-68) was also well placed at five under.

Clark, who started the day joint leader with Queensland's Scott Hend on five under, was steady rather than spectacular in Friday's round.

Starting on the 10th hole, he parred the first nine holes he played, then picked up two birdies on the homeward nine.

While satisfied, he conceded he could have scored much better on a day when New South Welshman Aaron Townsend equalled the course record of 64 to join the group on five under.

"I had a lot more birdie chances, close ones, with the greens being softer (than on Thursday), I just did not make anything," Clark said.

"I made one putt of about eight feet for birdie on number one, which was my back nine, and that was it all day."

But the world No.43 still liked his chances.

"I am still in a good position, it seems like it is going to be quite bunched up with how the course is playing. Really, it is about playing four solid rounds," he said.

Hend slipped back with a 73 to be on four under.

But he fared much better than several big names who missed the cut.

American John Daly again drew big galleries, but will not be around for the weekend after shooting 73 on Friday to finish five over par.

His playing partner, three-time winner Craig Parry, also bowed out on three over.

Stuart Appleby (four over), John Senden (three over), Peter O'Malley (three over) and Jarrod Moseley (three over) will also be missing.



APGA: Australian Masters
Pos Name NAT Hole To Par 1 2 3 4 Total
1 Tim Clark RSA F -7 67 70 137
T2 Michael Sim AUS F -6 72 66 138
T2 Anthony Summers AUS F -6 70 68 138
T4 Steve Webster ENG F -5 71 68 139
T4 Robert Allenby AUS F -5 73 66 139
T4 Jamie Donaldson WAL F -5 72 67 139
T4 Aaron Townsend AUS F -5 75 64 139
T4 Rod Pampling AUS F -5 71 68 139
T4 David Horsey ENG F -5 71 68 139
T4 Michael Wright AUS F -5 69 70 139

T11 Scott Hend AUS F -4 67 73 140
T11 Marcus Fraser AUS F -4 73 67 140
T11 Nathan Green AUS F -4 72 68 140
T11 Scott Laycock AUS F -4 73 67 140
T11 Ashley Hall AUS F -4 73 67 140
T19 Brett Rumford AUS F -3 71 70 141
T19 Ewan Porter AUS F -3 70 71 141
T19 Marc Leishman AUS F -3 71 70 141
T22 Peter Senior AUS F -2 70 72 142
T22 Tony Carolan AUS F -2 74 68 142
T22 Greg Chalmers AUS F -2 72 70 142
T22 David McKenzie AUS F -2 72 70 142
T22 Adam Crawford AUS F -2 71 71 142
T22 Steven Bowditch AUS F -2 72 70 142