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Olesen opens gap on field in Austria

AUSTRIAN OPEN: HEAVY RAIN and the threat of lightning caused play to be abandoned midway through the second round of the Lyoness…

Fri Jul 27 2012 - 01:00

AUSTRIAN OPEN:HEAVY RAIN and the threat of lightning caused play to be abandoned midway through the second round of the Lyoness Open in Austria yesterday with Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen sitting on a three-shot clubhouse lead.

The 22-year-old’s excellent form that saw him finish ninth in last week’s British Open – his sixth top-10 finish of the season – continued as he moved to 12 under after adding a 68 to his opening 64.

Starting one behind Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal, Olesen’s first task was to complete the four remaining holes of his first round caused by heavy rain on Wednesday.

He picked up a birdie at the 17th to complete a first round 64 then after a quick turnaround enjoyed perfect conditions to sign for a second round 68. Olesen holed birdie putts from 12 and 25 feet at the fourth and fifth respectively, before striking his approach shot to three feet at the eighth hole.

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“There was quite a strong wind out there at times,” he said. “I struggled a bit round the turn and hit a few bad drives, but I managed to hit some good shots coming home.”

Frenchman Thomas Levet finished with a second-round 70 to sit in second place three shots behind the Dane.

England’s Richard Bland (67) was next best on eight under, with Dutchman Wil Besseling (72) on seven under, together with home favourite Bernd Wiesberger, the Ballantine’s Championship winner, who shot a superb round of 66 to move into contention.

Overnight leader Larrazábal struggled to maintain his momentum, and was on two over par after nine holes when play was suspended at Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, with most players still on the front nine.

Larrazábal is on six under for the tournament, a mark reached by Ireland’s David Higgins as he completed 25 holes yesterday.

The Kerryman added two birdies in the seven holes remaining in his first round for an opening 67 and went on to post a one-under 71 to leave him in a tie for seventh spot.

Shane Lowry is three under for the tournament through nine holes of his second round, while Damien McGrane is one over after five and level overall.

Simon Thornton is two shots outside the proposed cut with seven to play and amateur Alan Dunbar is five over with 11 left.