By Brendan James
Golf Australia Editor
at The Australian Open
With most of the field having completed their disrupted second round, the Australian Open is developing into a race in two between Stuart Appleby and Adam Scott.
Appleby ground out a magnificent six-under-par 66 in the worst of the windy conditions at NSW Golf Club last night, to open up a ten shot lead over those players who finished their rounds after gale force winds caused play to be suspended for five hours on Friday.
Nearly half the field returned early this morning to complete their rounds and were greeted by light winds making conditions ideal for scoring.
Scott took full advantage adding four more birdies to his two late yesterday to card a 66 and reach the halfway mark at 10 under, two shots adrift of Appleby. It has been a near flawless display from Scott thus far, with just three bogies blotting his card in the first 36 holes.
First round co-leader Scott Hend moved to seven under with a 71 and is five shots behind Appleby in third place, alongside Victoria's Jarrod Lyle (68) and West Australian leftie Nick O'Hern (68).
Other big movers this morning have included Scott's playing partner, John Daly, who made five birdies in his three under round of 69. The new slim Daly was on the cusp of the top-10 and had made his first cut from six previous starts on Australian soil.
Two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley looked set to rip the NSW course apart when he reached five under for his round through his opening seven holes, that included six 3s on his card. But as has been the case for most of 2009, a bogey and double bogey finish to the front nine snuffed out his incredible run. He regained his composure to card a 68 and move to three under.
The third round is expected to start shortly after midday with Scott, Appleby and Hend making up the final grouping.
Can Appleby continue his charge toward a second Stonehaven Cup, or will Scott finally win at home and get his career moving forward again?
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