Parry leads Austrian Open after strong play on the front nine
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open Champion, had moved into a two way tie for first in the early stages of round two at the Austrian Open today. The Northern Irishman was tied with Jose Manuel Lara of Spain at seven-under par after they had both finished
their second day of play, but John Parry John went two-under on the front nine to end the second day on top of the leaderboard at eight-under.
McDowell sat at three-under par after the first day while Lara was six-under. A strong back nine to open day two put McDowell into the tie. Parry had finished his first day three-under par, but hit five under on day two to take the lead.
McDowell has not played well on the front nine while Parry and Lara have both managed some success.
“This front nine's quite tricky and you've got to drive the ball unbelievably well to have any chance of making birdies,” said McDowell. “On the back nine it's a lot more three woods and hybrids off the tees which offers you a few more opportunities, and
I think the greens are a little flatter as well.”
McDowell’s score card shows the difference between the front and back nine. After two rounds he’s hit 11 birdies on the back nine with one bogey, on the front nine he has no birdies and two bogeys.
Parry has fared well throughout the course, hitting six birdies on the back nine and three on the front. He also hit his only bogey on the back nine.
Lara has also had success on both the front and the back nine. He has six birdies on the back nine with two bogeys, and five birdies on the front nine with two bogeys.
Pelle Edberg has also moved into second place at seven-under with Lara and McDowell after going four-under in his second round.
Tags: