Australian Geoff Ogilvy shot a superb eight-under 65 in the second round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship, extending his lead to a commanding six strokes on Saturday.
Entering the third round of the $5,6-million winners-only event with a one-stroke lead, Ogilvy added five more to his margin with a bogey-free round that included eight birdies.
He followed a bogey-free first round of 67 with a five-under-par 68 on Friday.
”I’ve never actually been this far in front before, but I’ve been this far behind a lot of times,” said Ogilvy, who moved to 19-under 200 for a six-shot lead over Justin Leonard.
Colombia’s Camilo Villegas, Davis Love, Kenny Perry and Anthony Kim are at 12-under 207 with South Korea’s KJ Choi another stroke back.
Defending champion Daniel Chopra of Sweden signed for a six-under 67 and is in the clubhouse at four-under 215.
A birdie at number one was one of four for Ogilvy on the front nine and got him off to a good start. He started the back nine with a birdie at number 10 and then had a run of three straight starting at the 13th.
”I played well, obviously,” Ogilvy said. ”It was a different course than I’ve ever seen before. Just a gentle wind in completely the opposite direction that I’ve ever seen it. So it was different.”
Leonard also signed for a 65 and is in second at 13-under 206 along with Trahan, who shot a three-under 70.
”Played solid. Probably as well as I did yesterday, but I feel like I made a few more putts,” Leonard said.
Leonard also had a bogey-free round that included eight birdies, including one on 18. But as well as he played, he still found himself well off the lead.
”I was looking at the leaderboards on the back nine, but I never saw Geoff’s section, so I didn’t know where he was,” Leonard said.
”And then when I got to 18, I saw he was at 19-under. So it was a little deflating, to say the least.”
First prize is just over one million dollars, and a win also guarantees a spot in the field here next season. – AFP
