Sport

Frazer's 62 still not enough as Widegren leads

WELSH MAN James Frazer spectacularly scorched into contention for the Chartis-sponsored European Individual Amateur Championship…

Sat Aug 11 2012 - 01:00

WELSH MAN James Frazer spectacularly scorched into contention for the Chartis-sponsored European Individual Amateur Championship at Carton House when he shaved two shots off the course record with a sensational 10 under 62 on the 7,300 yard Montgomerie Course, reports Brian Keogh in Maynooth.

The 25-year-old from Pennard Golf Club in Swansea picked up four birdies on the front nine, bogeyed the 10th but then followed a birdie from 40 feet at the 11th with a scintillating finish of four successive birdies from the 14th followed by an eagle three from 30 feet at the last.

Despite blustery conditions, he used the blade just 10 times in a homeward nine of six under 30 and single-putted the last eight greens. “I played very, very solid and putting was the key today,” said Frazer after the lowest round of his career.

So high is the standard his round was only good enough for a share of fourth on nine under par, four strokes adrift of 21-year old Pontus Widegren from Sweden.

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The UCLA star had nine birdies in a 65 that gave him a one-stroke lead over 19-year-old Portuguese international Gonçalo Pinto on 13 under par, with Spain’s Juan Francisco Sarasti third on 10 under after a 66.

“It’s hard to get attention this week!” Widegren said of Frazer’s red-hot round and the rash of low scoring this week.

Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan is the best of the Irish in eight place, six shots off the pace after a 70, with British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar eight behind after a 71.

Only five of the 17-strong home challenge made the two over par cut for today’s final round, with Portmarnock’s Geoff Lenehan (71) on one under, Lucan’s Richard O’Donovan (73) on level and Greystone’s Paul Dunne (73) two over.

BRITISH SENIOR AMATEUR OPEN:Arthur Pierse faltered in the final round at Machynys Peninsula in West Wales but still finished as the top Irishman.

Two strokes off the pace overnight, the 61-year-old former champion from Tipperary slipped to a three over par 75, his worst round of the week, for a 54-hole aggregate of 219.

That gave him ninth place, eight strokes behind clear winner Chip Lutz, the 57-year-old from Pennsylvania, who became only the third man to win this crown two years in a row.

Pierse blamed his putting for his plunge down the field. “I could not hole a thing. I took 36 putts and that is no good at any level of the game.”

Portmarnock’s European Champion Adrian Morrow left his best until last, carding a 71 for 220 and a share of 10th place – and former Walker Cup captain Garth McGimpsey did likewise posting a 71 after earlier scores of 73 and 77- he finished 12th on 221.

Lutz fired a closing 68 to end on 211, four clear of fellow countrymen Doug Pool and Steve Rogers and overnight leader Paul Simson.

European Individual Amateur Championship (at Carton House) (Montgomerie, par 72)

203 – P Widegren (Swe) 71 67 65.

204 – G Pinto (Por) 68 68 68.

206 – J Sarasti (Esp) 70 70 66.

207 – J Frazer (Wal) 71 74 62, A Saddier (Fra) 69 69 69, T Sorensen (Den) 69 67 71, D Jennevret (Swe) 64 70 73.

209 – K Phelan (Ire) 73 66 70.

210 – L Scotto (Ita) 70 69 71, J Shufflebotham (Wal) 68 69 73.

211 – K Ventura (Norway) 76 67 68, A Dunbar (Ire) 76 64 71, T Detry (Bel) 72 70 69, M Clark (Sco) 72 68 71, N Carlsson (Swe) 71 70 70, N Kimsey (Eng) 71 69 71, B Stow (Eng) 69 72 70, M Saunders (Eng) 68 72 71, R Pugh (Wal) 68 71 72, T Pieters (Bel) 66 71 74.

212 – G Robertson (Sco) 75 65 72, C Sordet (Fra) 73 68 71, N Lindstrom (Swe) 68 74 70, R Kind (Ned) 68 72 72, M Schwab (Aut) 67 73 72. 213 – F Daux (Fra) 72 70 71, A Boasson (Isl) 71 74 68, P Westermann (Ger) 69 70 74, G Porteous (Eng) 66 73 74. 214 – T Gornik (Slovenia) 71 72 71, M Lampert (Ger) 70 74 70, H Rouillon (Fra) 70 73 71, F Zucchetti (Ita) 70 73 71, M Rottluff (Ger) 68 72 74.

British Senior Amateur Open

211 – C Lutz (US) 73 70 68.

215 – D Pool (US) 70 74 71; S Rogers (US) 70 73 72; P Simson (US) 73 69 73.

216 – B Exber (US) 74 72 70.

Irish totals: 219 – A Pierse (Tipperary) 70 74 75; 220 – A Morrow (Portmarnock) 73 76 71; 221 – G McGimpsey (Bangor)73 77 71; 222 – T Cleary (Cork) 75 75 72; 223 – M Kelly (Killeen) 70 76 77; 225 – M Quirke (Doneraile) 75 76 74; 228 B Donlon (Birr) 74 75 79; 229 – G Mellerick (Fota Island) 76 74 79, M Coote (Tralee)75 74 80; 234 – D Morris (Limerick) 75 75 84.