Bernd Wiesberger Takes Two Shot Lead To Malaysian Finale’
By Les Bailey
Jun 13, 2014; Pinehurst, NC, USA; Bernd Wiesberger tees off on the 6th hole during the second round of the 2014 U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst Resort Country Club – #2 Course. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
Arguably the hottest player on the European Tour during the Desert Swing, twenty-nine year old Bernd Wiesberger started his Saturday three shots back at the Maybank Malaysian Open. The young Austrian also began his day at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club with a run of five birdies, and quickly grabbed the lead.
Wiesberger fired a third round, nine under par 63, and by the end of the day in Malaysia, had a two shot lead over halfway leader, Alejandro Canizares, and three shots over the other halfway leader, defending champ, Lee Westwood.
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After Canizares, and Wiesberger pulled clear of Lee Westwood, it became a dog-fight to see who would be the leader by the end of the day.
The battle came at the 16th hole, when the Spaniard, Canizares pitched in for an eagle at the par four, and for a few moments, had the lead. Wiesberger holed out from 25 feet to pull even again.
there was a 59 watch going on during the day
Both players birdied 17, and it came down to the 18th hole. Wiesberger continued his great play with a birdie , and Canizares made bogey, giving the Austrian a two-shot lead.
"“I caught up with the leaders early, which was good, and finish off well,” said the 29 year old Wiesberger. “It was a great day for me. This is my European Tour record – I’ve never shot a 63.“I’ve been working on the right things which are important for my game. I’ve improved on my putting a lot; I have changed to a different model and it has been working for me. I also have the belief that I can play good golf now.”"
Alejandro Canizares made a valiant run, but at the end of the day, the Spaniard made too many mistakes. Bogeys at 6, 11, 12, and 18 cost him the lead.
"“It was fun, playing alongside these guys is always fun,” he said. “I made more mistakes than the previous days but I’m quite happy I made a two on 16 with a wedge.“Hopefully tomorrow, I have the same fun. It’s always good to play with someone who is playing well as he’s pulling you to make birdies as well. It was fun to watch, he played great. He kept me going and kept me pushing."
With only one bogey on his card, Lee Westwood didn’t play badly on Saturday, but while everyone else was making birdies, the defending champ, was making pars. With one bogey, and one par, Westwood made the turn at even par, and managed only three birdies down the Stretch.
The former number one fell three back, into a tie for third place with fellow Brit, Paul Waring, who carded a nice 65 on the day.
They always say, what the golf course takes away, it always gives back. Birdies, and scores in the 60’s were hard to come by on Friday, and on Saturday, nearly everyone was in the 60’s. Wiesberger’s 63 was not the low score on the day, as there was a 59 watch going on during the day.
With “Lift Clean and Place” in effect, there were some low scores in Malaysia on Saturday, and the lowest was a 10 under par 62 carded by Anirban Lahiri. Of course after making the turn in 30, and the announcers put the Indian golfer on a 59 watch, they hexed his back nine.
His score would not have counted for a record because of the laxed rules.
He went bogey-free on the day, but only managed four birdies on the back, and couldn’t get birdies at the easier finishing holes. That ends another failed attempt for a record-setting score on the European Tour.
Two other nice scores were turned in by a couple of Americans. Paul Peterson fired an eight under par 64 to move into sole possession of sixth place. Peter Uihlein carded a seven under 65, and moved into a tie for 11th place.
After a nice start on Thursday, Graeme McDowell has faltered, posting a 73 on Friday, and followed on Saturday with an even par effort. He has dropped down the leaderboard into a tie for 18th place.
Source and Quotes from EuropeanTour.com