The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Stewart in hunt for coveted qualifying place
Second round 65 boosts Scot’s chances of sealing berth in final-day match play stages in Australia
Scotland’s Duncan Stewart soared up the leaderboard on day two of the inaugural ISPS Handa World Super 6 in Perth, Australia.
The Grantown-on-Spey man’s seven under par 65 took him into the top 10.
Aussie Brett Rumford claimed the halfway lead as home players continued to dominate the event.
Rumford added a second round of 65 to his opening 66 to finish 13 under par, two shots ahead of compatriot David Bransdon, whose flawless 64 was a shot outside the course record at Lake Karrinyup.
Steven Jeffress was a shot further back after a 66 as Australian players filled seven of the top nine places.
Under the new tournament format, the field will be cut to 24 players ahead of tomorrow’s match play stage, with Rumford keen to be part of the top eight who will receive a bye in the first round of the six-hole shoot-outs.
“Oh, 100%,” said the Perth native and five-time European Tour winner, who lost his card at the end of last season.
“That’s one less lottery round you have to deal with, isn’t it?
“It’s a huge bonus qualifying inside that top eight. It’s definitely something I am thinking about.”
Pre-tournament favourite Louis Oosthuizen, who won the Perth International at the same venue last year, is six shots off the lead after adding a 68 to his opening 69.
“I’m trying to play pretty safe off the tee and give myself good iron shots in,” the former Open champion said.
“I feel pretty confident with my iron play at the moment and just struggling to get a good roll on the greens.
“My pace is off, I’m short all the time or miss it on the low side so I need to see if I can get a better pace on it.
“I’ve had two days so I can’t still be moaning about it, I’ve got to figure it out.”
World No 11 Alex Noren, the highest ranked player in the field, missed his first halfway cut since last year’s US Open.
Scott Henry, the only other Scot in this week’s field, also missed the cut despite a 70 yesterday. His first round 78 proved costly as he missed out by six shots.