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November 22, 2014

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Stenson snatches lead in Dubai

HENRIK Stenson continued his amazing dominance at the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates as his 11th consecutive round in the 60s gave him a two-shot lead halfway through the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship yesterday.

The Swede, who is also a brand ambassador for the Dubai golf course, shot a 6-under-par 66 in the second round and is now 10-under after 36 holes.

Overnight joint leader and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy was among three players at 8-under 136. The Northern Irishman struggled a bit and then hit his tee shot into the water hazard on the 18th hole in his round of 2-under 70.

Also at 136 were Scot Ritchie Ramsay (69) and England’s Danny Willett (67).

Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello shot the lowest round of the day — an 8-under 64 ­— to join Irishman Shane Lowry (71), the overnight leader alongside McIlroy, England’s Justin Rose (66), Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg (67) and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen (70) tied for fifth at 137.

Defending champion Stenson, who won the tournament last year with a record 25 under total, made just one mistake early in his round, when he dropped a shot on the long par-3 fourth hole, but putted beautifully to make amends with seven birdies, including a brilliant two-putt birdie from 80-feet on the final hole.

The 38-year-old has played 18 rounds at the tournament so far and has 17 sub-par rounds. His worst score is a 73 in the final round of the 2010 edition.

In Manila, Singaporean Mardan Mamat birdied five of his closing six holes to remain in a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Manila Masters yesterday.

The 47-year-old, seeking a strong week to boost his chances of retaining his playing privileges on the Asian Tour next season, followed up his first-round 7-under 65 with a 68 to sit level with South Korean Wang Jeung-hun (65) at 11-under.

Last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat was two shots back after the Thai hit a 69, with England’s Steve Lewton (66) and Malaysian Danny Chia (71) fourth at 7-under.

Mamat, a three-time winner on the Tour, began his second round with 10 straight pars after starting on the 10th.

He made a bogey at the par-4 second before picking up his first shot of the day at the fourth and then finishing in style with four straight birdies.

“I couldn’t get my momentum right on my front nine. I told myself to stay patient and I managed to finish well. I knew I had to keep to my pace to stay in contention and I managed to do it,” said Mamat, who is in 74th position on the Order of Merit and needs to finish in the top 60 to save his Tour card.

Japan’s Daisuke Kataoka, who shared the overnight lead with Mamat, fell into a tie for sixth at 6-under after a 1-over 73.




 

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