Spaniard Otaegui shines in Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
DOHA, February 24, 2018 - After missing the cut at the Doha Golf Club last year a second time in his three previous starts, Adrian Otaegui sent the Friday afternoon crowd into raptures as his 66 catapulted him to the top of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
On the first day, the 25-year-old Spaniard, rejuvenated by his best finish of the season so far in Oman last week, carded a five under. Today, he consolidated it further with a 66 to collect 11 under par total and gain the solo lead.
Former Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher of Scotland and Erik van Rooyen of South Africa are one stroke behind the leader in a quartet, which includes overnight leaders Eddie Pepperell (England) and three time European Tour winner Gregory Havret (France).
Another shot adrift is a bunch of five players American Sean Crocker, Englishman Olver Fisher, German Sebastian Heisele, South African George Coetzeen and Spanish Pablo Larrazabal.
Two players carded the lowest score of the day. Wales' Jamie Donaldson and South African Zander Lombard punched 65 each but both ended with contrasting fortunes. While Donaldson's seven under par total easily carried him past the cut, Lombard totaled three under 141.
Sharing the eighth place yesterday with a bogey-free 67, Otagui continued his strong run and added four more shots in the first 11 holes. The 2017 Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play winner dropped a shot on the 13th. However, determined to make up for it, he fired three birdies off the final three holes to post 66 and grab the lead.
"I started nicely with a birdie at the first and then lots of pars, although I gave myself lots of chances. Then I had another birdie at the seventh, started well on the back nine at ten and then birdied 11 and dropped a shot at the 13th, but I played great after that and finished birdie-birdie-birdie, so I'm happy with my round," the Spaniard said.
He added,"I'm really looking forward to the weekend now. I just wanted to stay patient hole after hole and we'll see what happens." The bright sunshine and gentle breeze made playing conditions conducive for low scores. As a result, the projected cut of minus 3 was revised to four under par the lowest in the tournament's history. Still defending champion Jeunghun Wang and European Tour leader Shubhanker Sharma were among notable players who failed to beat the cut.
While the South Korean Jeunghun, who was four under on the first day, fell short of the target by three shots, Sharma played a par round with three birdies and as many bogeys to miss the mark by one his second in a row after Oman last week.
Darren Fichardt, the winner in 2003, and Thomas Bjorn, the 2011 champion, also fell by the wayside. Darren Clarke, the former Major champion, was six over after two days and bowed out. Julian Suri, the highest world-ranked player in the field at 70, had a fine day but his second day 67 failed to make amends and he was also a big casualty.
The former Major champion and Doha double winner Paul Lawrie was saved by his first day 68. He managed a par round today and extended his stay. In previous 19 appearances here, the 1999 Open Championship winner has made the cut 15 times, going on to grab the title in 1999 and 2012.
Three Tour titles winner Edoardo Molinari played two over par today and the Italian's six under par 66 on Thursday helped him finish with four under 140 aggregate. He was not able to make the cut last year the third time in his previous five starts. His best finish in Doha has been 24th on his debut here in 2010.
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