Date: March 02, 2007
Author:

Nitties in contention

Australian James Nitties has fired a five-under round of 67 to move into equal third place behind Englishman Oliver Wilson at the half way mark of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand. Wilson carded a round of 66 to move into the outright lead at ten-under-par, one clear of South Africa&aposs Anton Haig who shot a round of 64 in the easier morning conditions. Haig&aposs stunning round included seven birdies, an eagle two at the par-four 13th, and a bogey, as he surged up from one-under into the outright lead at nine-under, only for Wilson to gain the lead in the afternoon. Nitties is tied for third place with South African Retief Goosen, the World No.8 having fired his second consecutive round of 68 to be well in contention. New Zealand&aposs Richard Lee has stayed in touch after a round of 70, and is seven-under, and in outright fifth, while Australians Kim Felton (68) and Adam Bland (67) are in joint sixth place at six-under in a group which contains Swede Peter Hanson (72) and England&aposs Richard Bland (70). Scot Colin Montgomerie is still in contention at five-under in a large group which consists of Australian Nick Flanagan (69) and local hope Thongchai Jaidee (68). Veteran Aussies Peter Fowler and Terry Pilkadaris are a stroke further back at four-under, while overnight leader Brad Kennedy had a day he would rather forget slumping to a five-over par 77 to be in joint 32nd place at two-under-par. World No.4 Adam Scott shot a 69 moved him to one-under to scrape into the cut which was made at level par. Johnnie Walker Classic – Round Two Scores -10: Oliver Wilson 68 66 -9: Anton Haig 71 64 -8: James Nitties (Australia) 69 67, Retief Goosen 68 68 -7: Richard Lee 67 70 -6: Richard Bland 68 70, Ter-Chang Wang 68 70, Kim Felton (Australia) 70 68, Peter Hanson 66 72, Adam Bland (Australia) 71 67 -5: David Frost 69 70, Keith Horne 68 71, Nick Flanagan (Australia) 70 69, Thongchai Jaidee 71 68, Colin Montgomerie 69 70, Jeev Milkha Singh 67 72, Richard Sterne 75 64, Graeme Storm 66 73 -4: Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 70 70, Marc Warren 68 72, Peter Fowler (Australia) 68 72, Garry Houston 72 68