Saturday 13th
9h00 - 17h00 |
RESULTS 2008 - Mauritius Open 2008
PRO Results Round 2 |
Saturday 13th December 2008
|
- Final Round of the Air Mauritius Amateur Championship on the Links
Course. |
- Final Round of The Ladies Competition on the Links Course |
Stage is set for another
final-day thriller
|
The 15th edition of the Mauritius Golf Open could be set for another nail-biting climax after the main contenders closed ranks at the top of the leaderboard on The Legend course at the Belle Mare Plage resort. |
At one stage in the second round, overnight leader Sébastian Delagrange, the Frenchman who won the tournament in 2001, had opened a three-stroke margin over the rest of the field. But then Justin Hobday posted a day’s best of 64 to take the clubhouse lead on seven-over-par and the likes of France’s Jean-François Remesy and the Welshman, Jamie Donaldson, also moved up on Delagrange. |
 |
|
All the ingredients are in place then for a repeat of the last-round dramas of the past three years – when Jose-Felipe Lima’s final drive handed the title to Miles Tunnicliff in 2005, and, a year later, Van Phillips produced a record inward score of 29 to snatch the crown and, 12 months ago, Peter Baker profited from his rivals’ misfortunes at the 13th hole.
Delagrange and compatriot Remesy go into the closing round heading the leaderboard on eight-under, Delagrange adding a 69 to his opening round 66 and Remesy carding a remarkable four-under 68 after twice losing a ball.
“I played solidly today,” said Delagrange. “I missed only three greens and I missed a few putts but I got to four-under after 10 holes.
“But then I three-putted the 12th from three metres for bogey and I couldn’t get a birdie after that.”
Remesy’s round was a little more eventful. He found water off the tee at the second, putt his next shot on the green but then three-putted.
And at the 13th, after driving down the middle, his four-wood second shot clipped an overhanging branch and the ball disappeared into oblivion.
A birdie at 17 helped repair the damage and the form of the diminutive Frenchman, now domiciled in Switzerland, is looking rather ominous.
Donaldson will join the leading pair in the final group on the final day after a sparkling 67 lifted him to within a stroke of the leaders.
|
Jean-François Remesy |
|
|
|
The Welshman made an eagle and four birdies, the only blemish being a three-putt at the 15th hole that saw the 33-year-old drop his first shot of the tournament.
“I had a couple of bonus holes out there,” said Donaldson. “I hit a six-iron that ran off the back of the sixth green but chipped in for eagle and then I chipped in for a birdie two at the 17th after hitting a poor tee shot.
“Overall my game is pretty good and I feel I have more to give.”
Donaldson starts the closing round on eight-under-par, alongside pre-tournament favourite Gregory Havret, whose 69 was launched, as in the opening round, with a bogey.
One shot further back is Hobday, who retired from the European Tour in 2002.
The 45-year-old South African demonstrated, however, that he can still produce quality golf on his day by producing an eight-birdie blitz.
Simon Wakefield and Phil Golding, the 1996 winner, aren’t too far away and then there is Lima, five strokes off the lead but capable of firing a low enough score to worry the main contenders.
Leading scores (GB & Ire unless stated):
135 S Delagrange (Fr) 66 69, J-F Remesy (Fr) 67 68; 136 J Donaldson 69 67, G Havret (Fr) 67 69; 137 J Hobday (RSA) 73 64;
139 S Wakefield 70 69, P Golding 69 70
140 J Guerrier (Fr) 71 69, J-F Lima (Por) 71 69, J Heath 70 70
141 B Telleria (Fr) 70 71, A Langernaken (Bel) 69 72
142 F Cupillard (Fr) 74 68, R Bland 69 73
143 M Miller 73 70, S Webster 71 72
144 D O’Sullivan 73 71, M McLean 72 72
145 P Rowe 75 70, G Ralph 74 71, G Evans 73 72, R Chapman 73 72, J-F Lucquin (Fr) 73 72, P Price 73 72
Ladies: 146 K Juul (Den) 73 73, R Hudson 74 72; 150 J Oliver 76 74; 165 K Fisher 79 86
Neil webber |
|
 |
Calendar & Results |
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday 13/12/2008 |
|
|
News |
|
|
|
|
