George Coetzee With A Share Of Halfway Lead In Qatar
By Les Bailey
Jun 13, 2013; Ardmore, PA, USA; George Coetzee walks down the 11th fairway during the first round of the 113th U.S. Open golf tournament at Merion Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: JD Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
South African George Coetzee fired a second-round five under par 67 on Thursday at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters to draw even with fellow countryman, Branden Grace and Austrian, Bernd Wiesberger to share the halfway lead. All three are tied at nine under par in the second stop on the European Tour’s desert swing in Qatar.
Coetzee, whose only victory on the European Tour came at the 2014 Joburg Open, teed off with Wiesburger on the back nine in this tournament that has a rare Wednesday start, and Saturday finish. In almost windless conditions, the South African made four birdies on the outward nine, and his only bogey coming on the back.
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Two of his three bogeys for the week come on the 452 yard par four fifth hole. Coetzee holed out some longish putts on the front nine, swapping the lead several time with Wiesberger.
"“I’m playing well. My swing is coming along slightly and I’m putting pretty nicely. I’ve just got to wait for my birdies and not force it and play the golf course like I know it.”"
Bernd Wiesberger is a two-time winner on the tour, and had a nice sixth-place finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last week.
"I haven’t really expected it coming into these two weeks, especially because I played quite poorly last year.“It gives me great confidence; if I keep on doing what I’m doing, I think I’ve worked on the right things the last couple of weeks and it shows.”"
Branden Grace carded a four under 68 in almost windless conditions in Qatar, but could not pull free down the stretch. Grace has five wins on the tour, including a win already this season at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
"“I really thought somebody was going to push on.“You saw the guys from this morning, they were six unders and five unders and seven unders, and nobody really pushed towards the end of the day.“The greens weren’t as quick as I thought they were going to be. They are still very good. They didn’t spike up at all, so it’s a big surprise nobody really pushed on.”"
The best rounds on the day were a pair seven under par 65’s turned in by Scot, Marc Warren, and Brit, Tommy Fleetwood. Warren finished at eight under par, one back of the leaders, and Fleetwood is two shots further back in a huge group tied for tenth place at six under par.
With the cut coming at two under par, it was able to snag a few surprises. Among those heading home, were South African, Char Schwartzel, Frenchman, Alexander Levy, and last-year’s runner-up, Mikko Ilonen.
Levy looked to have a hangover from all the missed putts at Abu Dhabi last Sunday, and shot 74 on Thursday. The Fin, Ilonen just never got it going this week at the Doha Golf Course and followed an even par round on Wednesday with a three over effort on Thursday.
Also missing the cut was last week’s first-time winner at Abu Dhabi, Gary Stal.
Defending Champion, Sergio Garcia shot a first-round matching three under par 69 and will begin the final two rounds in the huge group at six under par. The Spaniard made four birdies and one bogey in each round, and is well within striking distance to win his second Mother of Pearl Trophy.
Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose are having trouble getting their 2015 Race To Dubai season going on the Desert Swing. Rose had a respectful first round four under 68 score, but ran into more trouble on Thursday, carding a one over par 73. Stenson, however, missed the cut in Abu Dhabi last week, and although he hasn’t played badly this week, he hasn’t played well enough to make a run.
Both are in a large group at three under par, and tied for 44th position.
Four-time major champ, Ernie Els had a great round on Wednesday, shooting a five under 67. He followed it with an even par 72 on Thursday, and falls into a tie for 21st place with Raphael Cabrera Bello. Bello had a share of the first-round lead after shooting 66, but followed it up on Thursday with a one over par effort.
This tournament is being carried on The Golf Channel, with the finale’ on Saturday morning!