The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

De Jonge and Simpson share lead at Greenbrier

Posted: 30 Jul 2011 07:05 AM PDT

NEW YORK, July 30 — Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge made the most of his growing comfort level on the Old White Course by charging into a tie for the lead in yesterday's second round of the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia.

The burly 31-year-old, who finished third in the event's inaugural edition here 12 months ago, fired a sparkling three-under-par 67 to vault to the top of the standings at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs.

De Jonge rebounded from an early bogey with four birdies to post a seven-under total of 133, ending a sun-splashed day level with American Webb Simpson, who sank a six-foot birdie putt at the last for a 68.

Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa, who set the first-round pace with a sizzling 64, was a further stroke back after carding a 70 while American world No. 6 Phil Mickelson missed the cut after shooting a 73.

De Jonge, who had opened with a 66 in pursuit of a maiden victory on the PGA Tour, was delighted with his form at the picturesque resort venue situated in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains.

"I started out a little bit shaky but I made some good pars at the beginning of the round and got some momentum going," de Jonge told reporters. "It was nice. I felt like I had pretty good control of the ball."

The Zimbabwean's best PGA Tour finish was his third place in last year's Greenbrier Classic and he said he had liked the par-70 layout when he first saw it.

"I felt comfortable here from the start and I love the changes (since last year)," added de Jonge, who went to university at nearby Virginia Tech. "It feels good out there. It's a comfortable place for me."

Long-awaited breakthrough

De Jonge posted three top-three finishes on the 2010 PGA Tour and believes he simply needs to stay out of his own way if he is to pull off a long-awaited breakthrough victory on the US circuit.

"It's very, very difficult to win out here; it's difficult to win anywhere," he said. "The biggest thing is just getting out of my own way.

"Staying in your own routine . . . is the best way to put it."

Britain's Brian Davis birdied five of his last nine holes for a scintillating 64 to lie two shots off the pace, level with Americans Gary Woodland (70), Michael Letzig (66), Derek Lamely (70) and Scott Stallings (65).

The cut fell at one-over 141, with four-times major champion Mickelson the biggest name to fall by the wayside — his first missed cut this year in 15 PGA Tour starts.

"I played really well, hit a lot of good golf shots," Mickelson said after mixing six bogeys with three consecutive birdies from the 12th. "I'm not disappointed at all.

"I hit a few shots on the front nine that were actually really good shots that left me no chance to recover and I ended up trying to come back, but fell a couple of shots shy there."

Former major winners Justin Leonard, fellow American Davis Love III and Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, plus last year's Greenbrier Classic champion Stuart Appleby of Australia, also failed to advance. — Reuters

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Vettel storms back to take Hungary pole

Posted: 30 Jul 2011 06:07 AM PDT

BUDAPEST, July 30 — Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel roared back to form with pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix today after his Red Bull mechanics worked through the night to get his car up to speed.

Sebastian Vettel gives the thumbs up to "the boys" for his pole position. — Reuters pic

The German had failed to win the past two races but made sure Red Bull snapped up their 11th pole in 11 races this season, and 12th in a row, with his eighth of the campaign and 23rd of his career.

Australian teammate Mark Webber, second in the championship but a massive 77 points behind Vettel, qualified down in sixth place.

"I felt much more comfortable this morning," Vettel said. "I'm very pleased with the result; we changed a lot on the car overnight. The boys were working pretty hard and didn't get much sleep. I've got the confidence back."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who won in Germany last Sunday when Red Bull's dominance from the first half of the season continued to ebb away, was quickest early on in the final session but had to settle for second on the grid after Vettel's flying last lap.

"Still I think it is a great achievement for us. Today they seemed to pick up a bit of pace," said the Briton, twice a winner at the Hungaroring.

Hamilton's teammate Jenson Button was third on the grid for his 200th grand prix but double world champion Fernando Alonso could only manage fifth for Ferrari behind teammate Felipe Massa.

Spaniard Alonso, who was 30 yesterday, appeared to be heading for pole on his final lap but again lost time in the final sector as he feared. It was the first time this year that Massa had outqualified the Spaniard.

Vettel also took pole in Budapest last year, when Webber won, but Red Bull had not been sounding confident in the run-up to this race after their recent mini-blip.

As fans filled the stands on the steep grassy bank next to the home straight, the usual suspects were knocked out in Q1 while Sergio Perez surprisingly beat Sauber teammate Kamui Kobayashi in the second session and then qualified 10th.

Seven times champion Michael Schumacher was just ahead of the Mexican rookie as Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg again outqualified his German compatriot by taking seventh on the grid.

The sun had shone for the day's final practice where Vettel topped the timesheets. However, the overcast conditions from yesterday, when Hamilton was twice quickest, returned during qualifying.

The forecast for tomorrow's race is mixed. — Reuters

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Sabtu, 30 Julai 2011

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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