Sensational Karlsson storms to the front in Italy

5/9/2008

Robert Karlsson carded a sensational course record 61 at Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club to grab a two shot lead at the halfway stage of the Methorios Capital Italian Open.

The towering Swede was in sensational form and included two eagle threes in his effort to post a 15 under par total of 129, just one shot outside Ian Poulter’s record 36 hole total for the tournament which the Englishman carded on his way to victory at Olgiata in 2002.

Nearest challengers to the Ryder Cup man were South African Hennie Otto, who lost in a play-off to Alastair Forsyth in Madeira six weeks ago and who gave himself the chance of his first European Tour title with a fine 66 for 13 under par 131, and England’s Mark Foster who exactly matched Otto’s score.

Meanwhile fourth place going into the weekend was shared by Argentina’s Estanislao Goya, current Number One on the Challenge Tour Rankings, who proved he could more than hold his own with the big boys with a second round 67 for an 11 under par total of 133, to move alongside reigning BMW PGA champion Anders Hansen, who carded a 65.

But the day was all about Karlsson who broke his fellow countryman Joakim Bäckström’s year old course record by a stroke and who more than justified his decision not to play in this week’s Players Championship on the US PGA Tour even though, at World Number 48, he was entitled to tee up at Sawgrass.

Leaderboard – Round 2:

1. Robert Karlsson        SWE  68 61 129 -15
2. Mark Foster               ENG  65 66 131 -13
    Otto Henie                SAF  65 66 131 -13
4. Estanislao Goya         ARG  66 67 133 -11
    Anders Hansen          DEN  68 65 133 -11
6. Phillip Archer              ENG  70 64 134 -10
    Bradley Dredge         WAL  69 65 134 -10
    Marcus Fraser            AUS  67 67 134 -10
    Maarten Lafeber         NED  68 66 134 -10
    Christian Nilsson        SWE  67 67 134 -10
    Marco Ruiz                 PAR  64 70 134 -10
    Alvaro Valesco            ESP  70 64 134 -10

Source: European Tour