Randhawa joint fourth in Singapore Open

BUHRMANN ROUGHS IT OUT FOR THREE-SHOT LEAD IN SINGAPORE South African Hendrik Buhrmann, playing from rough to green, opened a three-shot halfway lead at the US$400,000 Singapore Open after carding his second successive six-under-par 66 on Friday.

Buhrmann, runner-up in this event two years ago, hit only three fairways at the Singapore Island Country Club’s Island Course but brilliantly stayed bogey-free with some superb shot-making which yielded six birdies.

The 37-year-old Springbok has a two-day aggregate of 12-under-par 132 and leads American duo Ahmad Dan Bateman and Ted Purdy, who shot 67 and 68 respectively, in what is the penultimate event on the 2000 Davidoff Tour.

India’s Jyoti Randhawa was the biggest mover, blitzing the Island Course with the day's best of eight-under-par 64 to move up to tied fourth place on 136 alongside compatriot Amandeep Johl, overnight leader Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand and local hope Mardan Mamat.

Buhrmann, who has finished 12th, third and seventh in his last three tournaments, is still searching for the elusive first victory in Asia. "I'm not a good player, just a lucky player! I battled to hit the fairways today but I'm putting extremely well. I didn’t have to scramble for pars as I got out really well from the rough. It’s good to have an opportunity to try and win this title after coming close in 1998 when I led going into the final day," said Buhrmann.

With his trusted broomhandle putter, Buhrmann picked up three shots on the trot from the opening hole from putts of two, 10 and 17 feet while his inward journey saw him roll in three more birdies at the 12th, 16th and 17th holes.

"This is a hilly course where you need to manage yourself well. It can wear you out and that is why I haven’t hit many balls at the range this week. I’m trying to keep the juice in my game. I'm playing well at the moment, so I’ve got a chance," he said.

Like the leader, Purdy, winner of the 1997 Hero Honda Masters, savoured an unblemished card.

"Whenever I’m in Asia, I always have the confidence to play well. I’m driving the ball pretty good right now but there is a lot of golf left," said Purdy, who has won approximately US$50,000 on Tour from just five starts this season.

Bateman said he is enjoying playing the 6,577-yard par-72 Island Course.

"It’s a fun course, with some short par fours which you can drive, some reachable par fives and some really tough ones," said Bateman, who had seven birdies against two bogeys.

Randhawa, fourth on the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit, kept up his charge for the prized Asia’s number one crown with a superb 64, which was an improvement of eight strokes from yesterday’s lacklustre 72. He credited his coach, Kel Llewellyn, for the change in fortunes.

"This is the first time that Kel has had a look at my game under the pressures of a tournament. We worked at the range after yesterday’s round and he got me to finish my swing with a little more aggression, as I was trying to steer the shots yesterday. We sorted that out and then, "bingo", a 64! It has put me right back in the chase. I’d like to dedicate this round to Kel," said a delighted Randhawa, who is four off the pace.

The talented Randhawa, winner of the Indian Open in March, had an impressive seven birdies, an eagle two, which was recorded at the short par four first hole when he drove the green, and one lone bogey. His longest putt was from 20 feet at the 13th hole.

Overnight leader Boonchu settled for a 71. "I didn’t make any putts," lamented Boonchu. "Also, I’m quite tired right now … I need to see the physio for a massage," added the Thai, who had three birdies against two bogeys.

Singapore’s long search for their first local winner in their 40th National Open remained very much alive. The country’s number one, Mardan, added a 69 to his opening 67. "I’m happy with my efforts so far but not too happy being four behind. I think Hendrik’s 12-under total is a great effort on this course but I’m determined to try and move up over the weekend. Any red number would be nice tomorrow," he said.

Current Davidoff Tour Order of Merit leader Yeh Wei-tze of Taiwan shot a 70 to lie in equal 17th place on 139 with the likes of England’s Simon Dyson, ranked second on the money list and 1998 merit winner Kang Wook-soon.

Leading second round scores

132: Hendrik Buhrmann (Rsa) 66-66
135: Ahmad Bateman (Usa) 68-67, Ted Purdy (Usa) 67-68
136: Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 72-64, Amandeep Johl (Ind) 68-68, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 67-69, Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 65-71
137: Charlie Wi (Kor) 69-68
138: Simon Yates (Sco) 72-66, Mo Joong-kyung (Kor) 71-67, Pablo Del Olmo (Mex) 70-68, Lam Chih Bing (Sin) 70-68, Danny Zarate (Phi) 69-69, Ross Bain (Sco) 68-70, Arjun Atwal (Ind) 68-70, John Kernohan (Usa) 67-71
139: Wayne Bradley (Rsa) 74-65, Simon Dyson (Eng) 73-66, Marciano Pucay (Phi) 72-67, Hsieh Yu-shu (Twn) 70-69, Yang Yong-eun (Kor) 70-69, Danilo Santos (Phi) 69-70, Kang Wook-soon (Kor) 69-70, Yeh Wei-tze (Twn) 69-70, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 67-72, Gary Rusnak (Usa) 66-73
140: Craig Kamps (Rsa) 75-65, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 73-67, Gilberto Morales (Ven) 71- 69, Des Terblanche (Rsa) 71-69