At the conclusion of Friday's rain delayed second round, Australian Andre Stolz tops the leaderboard in the ANZ Championship after accumulating 19 points in his second round under the modified stableford format at The Lakes Golf Club, Sydney.
Stolz, winner of the ANZ Championship two years ago, took his points tally to 30 with a superb 65 to lead South African Trevor Immelman by one point, shortly before play was suspended on Friday due to bad light. Friday's afternoon starters, including overnight leader Jonathan, completed their second rounds early on Saturday.
Stolz, starting at the tenth, wasted no time in making a move with birdies at the 11th, 13th, 14th and 18th holes in addition to a wonderful eagle on the par five 17th, worth five points. The former apprentice at The Lakes then started his second nine with two birdies before finishing an outstanding round with two more birdies on the sixth and ninth holes.
“I started in the fog on the tenth and my playing partner Mathias Gronberg went ballistic with four birdies in the first five holes, so that got me going I think,” said Stolz.
“I did my last two years of my traineeship here so I’m enjoying being at The Lakes and enjoying the format.”
Immlemen shot seven birdies and an eagle for 19 points to move up to 29 points and just one point off the lead as he chases his first European Tour victory. The 22 year old, a graduate from the 2000 Challenge Tour Rankings, carded a round of 64 to nudge ahead of another Australian Criag Parry.
Parry had a hole in one on the 208 yard 15th hole for five points followed by another five points for an eagle on the 515 yard second hole to move into the unt.
“I’ve played The International on the US PGA Tour nine or ten times so I’m used to the format - it's different isn't it?," Parry said. "The Lakes is well suited to the format.”
Scott Laycock, also from Australia is fourth on 27 points with Spain’s Carlos Rodiles two points further back and Frenchman Gregory Havret, winner of the 2001 Atlanet Italian Open, on 24 points.
The best recovery of the day came from Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin, winner of the BMW Asian Open on the 2002 European Tour International Schedule and currently occupying third place in the Volvo Order of Merit. Sandelin bounced back from an opening round of 80, minus seven points, with a 64, worth 20 points to move to plus 13.
