Austin and Calcavecchia two clear at M. Lynch Shootout
Woody Austin finished 36 holes at 20- under-par 124.
Naples, FL - Woody Austin and Mark Calcavecchia teamed for a 12-under 60 in Saturday’s better-ball format to move into sole possession of the lead after the second round of the Merrill Lynch Shootout.
Austin and Calcavecchia, co first-round leaders, finished 36 holes at 20- under-par 124, which is good for a two-shot cushion over tournament host Greg Norman and long-hitting Bubba Watson. That pair shot an 11-under 61 on Saturday.
Defending champions Jerry Kelly and Rod Pampling (64), Scott Hoch and Kenny Perry (62) and Steve Elkington and Scott McCarron (62) are knotted in third place at minus-14.
Fred Funk and Jeff Sluman shared the opening-round lead with Austin and Calcavecchia, but only managed a five-under 67. The only team comprised of two players who are old enough for the Champions Tour share sixth with Anthony Kim and Mark O’Meara, who posted a nine-under 63 on Saturday. The duos are in at 13-under 131.
Chris DiMarco and Camilo Villegas, Brad Faxon and Justin Leonard and Charles Howell III are tied for eighth at minus-11. All three teams managed rounds of seven-under 64 in round two.
Fred Couples and John Daly share 11th with Stewart Cink and Masters champion Zach Johnson. Couples and Daly carded an eight-under 64 to Cink and Johnson’s 65 and the squads are tied at 10-under 134.
Austin and Calcavecchia birdied the first hole and the duo needed it just to keep pace. Watson eagled the first to take the lead, and the two teams stayed atop the leaderboard through much of the front nine thanks to three additional birdies from each tandem.
With the teams knotted at 12-under par, Austin and Calcavecchia collected three strokes around the turn. After both squads birdied No. 10, Austin and Calcavecchia stood three in front at minus-16.
Watson and Norman birdied 11, but Watson carried his Hall of Fame partner on Saturday. He rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt at the 13th for his sixth birdie of the round. It also drew the team to within one, but the overnight co-leaders responded.
Calcavecchia sank a five-footer for birdie at 13 and both players came up just short with their seconds at the par-five 14th. Austin two-putted for birdie to go three clear at 18-under par.
It was now Norman and Wetterich’s turn to answer, specifically Norman. He ran home a seven-footer for birdie at the 15th, which kicked off a great run for the team.
Watson took over at the par-three 16th. He hit a spectacular tee ball to five feet and converted the birdie putt. Watson hit a mammoth drive at the par-five 17th, but Norman two-putted for a birdie and tied his side for the lead.
The Calcavecchia/Austin teamed stalled a bit.
Calcavecchia drove out of bounds at 15, leaving Austin alone. He had to hole a five-footer to save par, but did. The duo parred 16, but took the second-round lead at the 17th.
Calcavecchia hit a five-wood to five feet to set up the eagle that gave his side a two-shot lead. That margin could be critical as Calcavecchia goes for his second win here and tries to get Austin his first in his first appearance.
“Irregardless of how well Greg and Bubba play tomorrow, it’s still our tournament to win or lose if we play way we’re capable of playing,” said Austin.
Despite being two back, Norman likes his horse heading into the unpredictable scramble format on Sunday.
“Tomorrow our chances are pretty good, considering Bubba drives it out there so far,” said Norman. “It’s nice when you can talk walk up — for me to be able to walk up 50 yards and have another shot. I quite honestly feel like I’m putting very, very well. So the two of us are putting well. We’re going to be putting from the same place tomorrow and we’re going to have a lot of good looks at it.”
Popularity: 5% [?]
