Spain cuts Aust. lead

Press, 20 November 1989, Page 30

Spain cuts Aust. lead

NZPA-Reuter Marbella, Spain

New Zealand’s Simon Owen and Greg Turner shot 72 and 73. respectively on Saturday for a total of 290, two-over-par in the second round of the World Cup. Australia had their lead cut to three shots by Spain as Spanish veteran Jose-Maria Canizares tamed the soggy Las Brisas course with a five-under-par 67. Peter Fowler and Wayne Grady, hampered by rainy, windy weather, shot rounds of 71 and 73 respectively — 10 shots worse, than their 6668 first-round total — as Australia boosted their sevenshot lead to nine strokes before it dwindled to three. The second round was postponed from Friday because of torrential rain and went ahead on Saturday despite intermittent showers and winds that grew in intensity during the afternoon in advance of a hurricane forecast for Sunday. The tournament organisers, the International Golf Association, have said the event would end on Sunday with full prizemoney paid.

Australia have a 10-under-par total of 278, with Spain on 281. The American pair of Paul Azinger and Mark McCumber faded to joint third place with Sweden on 287, one under par. Azinger and McCumber are trying to defend the title won for their country by McCumber and Ben Crenshaw last year but their respective rounds of 71 and 73 effectively ended their chances.