Nicholas makes the cut Down Under

PETALING JAYA: Nicholas Fung lives to fight another day at the World Super 6 Perth golf championship in Australia.

Nicholas struggled under windy conditions as he carded a dismal fourover 76 in yesterday’s second round of the US$1.75mil (RM5.4mil) event, sanctioned by the Tours of Australasia, Europe and Asia. The 27yearold, who opened with a 67, traded one birdie against five bogeys to finish on a twoday total of oneunder 143.

Nicholas slipped from joint fourth to tie for 43rd place, finishing just two shots above the cut line.

However, all is not lost yet for the onetime Asian Tour winner in the tournament that combines 54hole stroke play and match play formats.

Only the top 24 cut players will get to play in tomorrow’s finale and Nicholas is just two shots behind the top 24 in the current standings. Nicholas remains in high spirits. “Making the top 24 is the most important thing. After that, it will start from scratch again and everyone has a chance to win on Sunday,” said Nicholas.

“The wind was blowing at the speed of 35 km/h, so it made things really tough for us today.

“I’m still confident because I’m hitting the ball well. I need at least a fiveunder to progress into Sunday.”

Former world No. 1 Lee Westwood of England shot a 70 to join defending champion and first round pacesetter Brett Rumford at the top of the leaderboard. Brentford had a 72. The duo lead on an eightunder 136 total, one ahead of Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen, Australian Lucas Herbert, Thai Prom Meesawat and Grant Forrest of Scotland.

It was a tournament to forget for Malaysia’s Ben Leong. He posted a 79 to be joint 154th on 12over 156, missing his first cut of the season after four starts.