Caddy’s pep talk lifts Wallace
Englishman one ahead of chasing trio, overnight leader Jin tied 22nd after disappointing 76
>> BEIJING: A resilient Matt Wallace of England signed for a battling twounder-par 70 to seize a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the China Open yesterday.
The 28-year-old Wallace, who opened his campaign with a 65, moved atop the leaderboard after closing with a brilliant birdie, thanks to his caddy’s advice to pace himself on the par-five 18th hole at the Topwin Golf and Country Club.
Wallace traded one birdie against a bogey before soaring with an eagle on the par-five eighth hole for the third consecutive day to turn in 34. He reeled in six straight pars before dropping a shot on 17 which he would eventually gain it back on the last.
“It was tough all day, the wind picked up in the afternoon. Scoring was low this morning so I didn’t really know what the score would have to be to stay up there. I was two under after eight holes and was just thinking we can get a couple more birdies on the back nine. But the wind just picked up and I could not get it close enough,” said Wallace.
“I lean on my caddy quite a lot, he has been there, seen it and done it. I listen to him since he has so much experience. Sometimes he makes mistakes but he’s brilliant overall. And down the last hole, he showed his class. We made bogey on the hole before and he gave me the best advice going into the last.
“My caddy, Dave, told me there was no point in trying too hard to get a birdie since we are already in a good position. So, I just kept my tempo going into the last hole. Hit a great drive, a good second shot and hit it to four-feet from 50 yards and made the putt,” he added.
Kim Sih-Wan, who enjoyed top-10 finishes in his last two starts on Tour, continued his fine form to sign for a 66, grabbing a share of second place with Australia’s Jason Scrivener and Nacho Elvira of Spain in the US$3,178,000 event.
Lee Soo-Min of Korea reckoned the feel-good factor from his breakthrough win in the Middle Kingdom two years ago has stood in his favour as he put himself in the title mix after carding a 69. He sits two shots off the pace in fifth on 137 alongside three other players.
Overnight leader Jin Daxing of China slipped to tied-22nd position following a disappointing 76. He is amongst the six local players, including Li Haotong and Wu Ashun, to progress into the weekend rounds in their national open.