Wilson takes early advantage in all-English matchplay tie

Published on Friday 19 February 2010 22:26

OLIVER Wilson led Luke Donald by two at the halfway stage of their all-English clash in Tucson, Arizona. Fighting for a place in the quarter-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Wilson was facing his third European opponent in a row.

After knocking out Miguel Angel Jimenez and Rory McIlroy, the Mansfield golfer opened with a ten-foot birdie putt. Donald, behind for the first time this week, levelled when Wilson bogeyed the short third but dropped shots himself at the next two holes.

With last year's runner-up, and now favourite, Paul Casey two up after eight on American Brian Gay and Ian Poulter, the only other top-10 seed left in, marching into a three-up advantage on Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, three English players were heading for the last eight.

Sergio Garcia was the other European involved and in the opening match of the day he stood two up on South African Tim Clark with eight to play.

Retief Goosen was two up on American Nick Watney after five, while Colombian Camilo Villegas and Thai Thongchai Jaidee held the same advantage against American Ben Crane and Japan's 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa respectively.

• Norway's Suzann Pettersen shot a faultless eight-under-par 64 yesterday to open up a three-stroke lead midway through the season-opening Honda PTT LPGA Thailand. The 2007 champion did not drop a shot throughout the first round and repeated that feat at the Siam Country Club, carding eight birdies to move ahead of South Korea's Park Hee-young. Park also enjoyed a blemish-free round as she signed for a six-under 66, while Japan's Ai Miyazato was a further shot behind in third place after carding a five under 67.

South Korean MJ Hur, the joint overnight leader, dropped down the leaderboard with a two over 74 and was tied 13th, ten shots off the pace. Michelle Wie was also in a share of 13th after the 20-year-old American carded a four under 68. World No1 Lorena Ochoa is tied 18th following an even-par 72 and was joined by England's Laura Davies, whose four birdies against three bogeys saw her return to the clubhouse with a one under 71.

• Joe Durant claimed a one-shot lead at the Mayakoba Golf Classic after a blistering finish to his opening round, birdieing five of his final eight holes for a seven-under 64 and a narrow advantage over four players who shot 65s.