Defending champion Aaron Baddeley proved yesterday he's more than a one-hit wonder, holding his nerve to shoot a second consecutive 69 for a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Australian Open.
In near-perfect conditions the teenager handled one of Australia's most difficult courses with comparative ease, firing three birdies to join New Zealand's Greg Turner at six-under.
Lurking ominously three off the pace are Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Robert Allenby, alongside locals Peter O'Malley and Michael Harwood. "I hit a couple of errant tee shots but my iron play was pretty solid and I putted well again. I holed a couple of good par savers on 16 and 18," said Baddeley.
Baddeley's only blemish yesterday was a poor tee shot at the 13th which landed him his solitary bogey.
"I was working hard on my game, in the gym and I knew it was only a matter of time before something happened and I started shooting some scores," he said, adding that he thrived on big crowds, which grew at Kingston Heath as his round wore on. "Crowds help me focus," he said.
With Norman, Faldo and Allenby in the hunt, Baddeley will have his hands full to retain the title. Norman moved ominously up the leaderboard over the early holes in his quest to match Jack Nicklaus' six Open titles.
Paired with Allenby, he got off to a flyer, sinking birdies on the first two and another on the seventh to hit the turn at three under for the day. Nine pars on the back nine left him well placed for a weekend assault.
"I didn't miss inside five feet all day and I had some great saves," said Norman who complimented Baddeley on "a brilliant effort".
"I feel comfortable with the position I'm in for the weekend. I played well and feel good."
Six-time major winner Faldo, itching for a way out of the wilderness, showed tantalising glimpses of his former greatness, hitting four birdies before a bogey on the 16th spoiled his scorecard.
Allenby had an up-and-down day, matching three birdies with three bogeys for an even par 72.
While Norman and Faldo looked in good touch, 1998 US Masters and British Open champion Mark O'Meara was a shadow of his former self and missed the cut at 148.
The American, with 23 tournament wins and five Ryder Cup appearances to his credit, was unable to find the putting form that made him the 1998 US Player of the Year.
His second round 74 gave him a two round total of 150.
Former US amateur champion Matt Kuchar, meanwhile, couldn't match the solid start he made to professional golf on Thursday, flaying seven bogeys to be three over for the day and level par for the championship.
