Larrazabal toils to maintain lead in Qatar
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Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal has recorded an eagle and three birdies on the back nine to erase a bad start and take a one-shot lead at halfway in the Qatar Masters.
The 122nd-ranked Larrazbal, seeking his seventh European tour title, shot a one-under 71 at Doha Golf Club on Friday for a 36-hole total of nine-under 135.
“It was a tough start. Par-bogey-bogey was not in the plans,” said Larrazabal, who added double bogey on the par-five ninth to complete a front-nine 40 that left him four strokes back, after starting the day two shots in front.
He bounced back with an eagle at the par-5 10th before three more birdies, including the 18th.
“Mentally, you have to recover. You have to believe in the shots you plan … that’s what I did and it paid off,” the Spaniard added.
American Chase Hanna (66), South African Wilco Nienaber (68) and Poland’s Adrian Meronk (70) were all one shot behind in a tie for second.
Australia’s Wade Ormsby is not out of the picture, five shots off the lead after an up-and-down level-par round featuring three birdies and three bogeys.
Jason Scrivener also made it to the weekend on the even-par cut line after a 72 but Scott Hend’s 69 and Maverick Antcliff’s 70 weren’t enough to enable the Queensland pair to make the cut.
AP
