Tim Clark and Scott Hend share first round lead at the Australian Masters

November 27, 2008

SOUTH Africa's Tim Clark enjoyed the calm after the storm to share the opening round lead with Queensland's Scott Hend in the Australian Masters at Huntingdale.

Big-hitting 35-year-old Hend led for most of the day after posting an impressive five-under-par 67 - including six birdies and a bogey - in humid, blustery morning conditions on Thursday.

Clark's afternoon round lasted much longer - interrupted by a three-hour storm delay - and had more ups and downs than Hend's steady showing.

The world No.43, who was runner-up in the US Masters two years ago, joined Hend in the lead after 10 holes, including eagles on the downwind par five seventh and 10th holes.

But he slipped back with bogeys on the par four 11th and 13th and was two shots off the pace when the storm hit.

Lightning lit the skies and intermittent heavy rain and a brief hailstorm pounded the course.

But when play eventually resumed, calm weather and softened greens made for ideal conditions and Clark capitalised with birdies on the 15th and 16th on what he described as a “totally different course”.

“I was starting to drop shots before they called us off and I was lucky to come back out and make a few birdies,” he said.

“It's always tough to go out and finish off a round after such a delay, but it worked out for me.”

Four players - Englishman Daniel Wardrop, Queensland's Chris Downes and Michael Wright and Victorian Anthony Brown - were tied for third on three-under.

Downes, who had five holes to play when failing light brought a halt to play - was among about a third of the field needing to complete their rounds early on Friday.

But the course had the better of several big names.

Weekend galleries are unlikely to get to see American drawcard John Daly, unless he can bounce back from a four-over-par 76.

That score was matched by Daly's playing partner and three-time winner Craig Parry, while Victorian Stuart Appleby had 74.

Townsville-born Hend, one of golf's biggest hitters, used that attribute to advantage in places, including a 395m drive on the par five 10th to set up one of his six birdies.

But he was selective with his aggression.

“The way the holes run on the golf course you could drive it into the greenside traps on a few of the par fours,” he said.

“On the other par fours you have to be careful back into the wind - it was aggressive and defensive.”

Hend was looking to build on his good start in the event, co-sanctioned by the European Tour, to earn a full-time berth in Europe next year.

Otherwise, he will return to the Asian Tour, where he has played the past two years.
His ultimate aim is to return to the US PGA Tour, where he played fulltime in 2004 and 2005.

He failed at recent tilts at both the US and European qualifying schools, citing an arm tendon injury sustained 13 weeks ago lifting tiles in his house in Florida as a contributing factor in both missed opportunities.

“The doctor told me to take nine weeks off and I said to him that it was impossible at this time of year,” Hend said.

“Before the US tour school I took two weeks off and did not touch a club, obviously I missed there.

“ ... Then I missed in Europe because it was minus-three degrees and if anyone has had tendon problems the cold does not do too much for you.”


APGA: Australian Masters
Pos Name NAT Hole To Par 1 2 3 4 Total
T1 Scott Hend AUS F -5 67 67
T1 Tim Clark RSA F -5 67 67
T3 Anthony Brown AUS F -3 69 69
T3 Chris Downes AUS 13 -3 0
T3 Michael Wright AUS F -3 69 69
T3 Daniel Wardrop ENG F -3 69 69
T7 Simon Griffiths ENG F -2 70 70
T7 Peter Senior AUS F -2 70 70
T7 Vernon Sexton-Finck AUS F -2 70 70
T7 Daniel Chopra SWE F -2 70 70
T7 Andrew Dodt AUS 15 -2 0
T7 Paul Sheehan AUS F -2 70 70
T7 Anthony Summers AUS 15 -2 0
T7 Ewan Porter AUS F -2 70 70

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

What a great week it would have been for me to visit Melbourne, the Masters Golf and the Melbourne Greyhound Cup all in one week and then there is paying for it on Saturday night via Salegreys Iscool.

Robert Allenby's amazing albatross at the Australian Masters

November 29, 2008

IF Robert Allenby wins his third Australian Masters title, he will be able to look back on one of the greatest shots in the tournament's history as the turning point.

The Victorian's third round on Saturday was progressing solidly, but without any great momentum, and he was a shot off the lead when he started the par-five seventh hole.

But his second shot on that hole, a 223m three wood, rolled in for that rarest of golfing birds, an albatross, and suddenly he was atop the leaderboard.

Allenby described the shot as “perfect” and no one who witnessed it would disagree.

“It was about as pure as it looked,” he said.

“The wind was just off the right, I knew I didn't have to smash it, I knew I just needed to hit it solid.

“I was just going straight at (the hole) and it did exactly that, it went straight at it, it landed perfect.

“The funny thing is you never get those opportunities to land a three wood soft at Huntingdale but today was one of those days, so that was fortunate.

“Normally if it lands there it would go off the back, but it was pretty much perfect.”

With the green slightly above where Allenby was standing on the fairway, he could not see the ball roll in, but the crowd reaction quickly told the story.

“I saw it land and I saw it track towards the flag and it just sort of disappeared and then I heard the roar and obviously it had gone in,'' he said.

He pumped his fist, then raised both arms in triumph.

Allenby said he had to alter his club selection to cater for his pumping adrenaline on the following hole.

He ended the third round equal leader with West Australian Michael Sim and said if he went on to win the event the shot would take on even greater value in his estimation.

“If I win tomorrow I can say that that shot won me this tournament,” Allenby said.

Masters favourite Robert Allenby hits albatross, shares lead with Michael Sim

November 29, 2008

FOUR years ago, Robert Allenby hosted a group of young Australian amateur golfers at his house in Florida as they prepared to represent their nation in the Eisenhower Cup world teams event in Puerto Rico.

On Sunday, one of those youngsters, West Australian Michael Sim, will be out to prevent Allenby winning a third Australian Masters title at Huntingdale.

Allenby, the tournament favourite, and 24-year-old Sim, both finished Saturday's third round on 10 under par, two shots clear of third-placed Victorian Ashley Hall, a Huntingdale member.

Three players were tied for fourth on seven under - experienced Queenslander Rod Pampling, journeyman New South Welshman Anthony Summers and England's Steve Webster.

Allenby and Sim were playing partners on Saturday as the Victorian shot a five-under-par 67, his round sparked when he holed a 223m three-wood for an albatross on the par five seventh, and Sim a 68 to surge to the top of the leaderboard.

They will again play together in Sunday's final group.

That is nothing new to Allenby, a winner of 10 tour titles in Australia, including the Masters in 2003 and 2005, as well as numerous events overseas.

But for Sim, who acknowledges Allenby as one of his idols, it will be his first time in the last group of a major tournament, a situation he was hoping would not cause him to alter his focus.

"You've just got to stick to your gameplan, I'll stick to the same tee shots, same clubs off every tee," Sim said.

"It's the first time I've been in a final group and that's going to be different, there's going to be people out there supporting Rob because he's from Victoria.

"I've just got to stay in the moment, stay within each shot and if it happens, it happens."

Allenby fondly recalled his time with Sim and his team-mates in 2004, when he hosted them for a barbecue, took them on a boat trip and also joined them for some golf.

He welcomed Sim's emergence as a title contender.

The youngster was ranked the world's best amateur in 2005, but after turning professional, has been restricted by recurring back injuries at various stages of each year since.

"He's a great player and he's playing really well at the moment and I think it's awesome that he's playing so well ... it's always good to see the young guys playing well," Allenby said.

"I'm definitely not old but I've definitely been around and I'm excited for him.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge that he throws out tomorrow and looking forward to the opportunity to try and win my third gold jacket."

South African Tim Clark, who led the tournament after the second round, finished the third round seven shots adrift after firing a four-over-par 76.



APGA: Australian Masters
Pos Name NAT Hole To Par 1 2 3 4 Total
T1 Michael Sim AUS F -10 72 66 68 206
T1 Robert Allenby AUS F -10 73 66 67 206
3 Ashley Hall AUS F -8 73 67 68 208
T4 Steve Webster ENG F -7 71 68 70 209
T4 Rod Pampling AUS F -7 71 68 70 209
T4 Anthony Summers AUS F -7 70 68 71 209
T7 David Horsey ENG F -6 71 68 71 210
T7 Nathan Green AUS F -6 72 68 70 210
T7 Aaron Townsend AUS F -6 75 64 71 210
T10 Danny Lee (a) NZL F -5 71 69 71 211
T10 Scott Hend AUS F -5 67 73 71 211
T10 Michael Wright AUS F -5 69 70 72 211
T10 Marcus Fraser AUS F -5 73 67 71 211
T10 Craig Scott AUS F -5 72 72 67 211
T10 Daniel Wardrop ENG F -5 69 71 71 211

November 30, 2008

ROD Pampling has won the Australian Masters at Huntingdale for the first time, defeating Marcus Fraser in a play-off after the pair finished the fourth round locked on 12-under par.

Pampling, 39, claimed the Gold Jacket after making par, while Fraser made a bogey, on the third trip up the par-four 18th in the play-off after both players had parred the hole the first two times.

Fraser shot a seven-under-par final round of 65 to make the play-off, while Pampling carded a final-round 67.

Pre-tournament favourite Robert Allenby finished third on nine-under par after starting the round as joint leader, with Western Australia's Michael Sim, on 10 under.

"They're never fun to be in, you work so hard for 72 holes then you still have to go again," Pampling, a two-time winner on the US PGA Tour, said of the play-off that saw him win on home soil for the first time since the 1999 Canon Challenge at Terrey Hills in Sydney.

"But thankfully we came out on the right end.

"Marcus obviously played great today ... I'm very grateful that I ended up winning the trophy."

Fraser and Pampling both made a solid par on the first play-off hole before Fraser found a sand trap the second time then had to hole a four-metre putt to stay alive.

But Fraser, who played the final round with his wife heavily pregnant in hospital with their first child, could not repeat the dose on the third play-off hole, after again missing the green, and Pampling clinched the Gold Jacket and the $270,000 cheque for first place with another solid par.

Pampling said he had benefited from a longer-than-normal preparation time in Australia, after returning from the US about three weeks ago.

"(In the past) I haven't had a great preparation coming home, you've got a 24-hour flight, you get in Tuesday most times, you're just not used to the golf course as much," he said.

"I've had chances to win, but thankfully today I've got up there."

Pampling also credited focussing techniques instigated by his wife Angela, a clinical psychologist, for keeping him calm during the play-off.

Fraser and Pampling both made an early charge to overtake the overnight leaders.

Fraser, who started the day on five under, birdied six of the first eight holes to claim the outright lead at 11 under par and the outright lead.

Sim, meanwhile, dropped out of the picture with bogeys on the 2nd and 3rd holes, and Allenby dropped a shot when he three-putted the par-three 5th to fall two shots adrift of Fraser.

Pampling, who started the day at seven under, picked up two shots in his first six holes then joined Fraser in the lead when he sunk a long eagle putt on the par-five 7th.

Allenby, in the group behind Pampling, birdied the 7th to move within one shot of the lead, while Fraser bogeyed the 11th hole to join Allenby a shot behind Pampling.

But Fraser showed superb touch with his short game to birdie the 13th and 14th holes to move to 12-under par and regain the outright lead.

Fraser was still in front when he completed his round, but Pampling rejoined him soon after with a birdie on the par-three 15th.

Allenby then struck disaster with a double bogey on the same hole after he needed three bunker shots to find the green, leaving him three shots off the pace and out of contention.

Allenby, who revealed on Saturday that his mother Sylvia, who has cancer, did not have long to live, struggled to stay composed after blowing his chances at the 15th hole.

But, with his mother at the course to watch him play the final holes, he managed to par the remaining three to hold onto third position.

APGA: Australian Masters
Pos Name NAT Hole To Par 1 2 3 4 Total
1 Rod Pampling AUS F -12 71 68 70 67 276
2 Marcus Fraser AUS F -12 73 67 71 65 276
3 Robert Allenby AUS F -9 73 66 67 73 279
T4 Alexander Noren SWE F -8 73 71 68 68 280
T4 Tim Clark RSA F -8 67 70 76 67 280
T4 Nathan Green AUS F -8 72 68 70 70 280
7 David McKenzie AUS F -7 72 70 71 71 284
T8 Marc Leishman AUS F -6 71 70 74 67 282
T8 Martin Erlandsson SWE F -6 74 71 70 67 282