MELBOURNE, Australia -- Australian amateur Aaron Pike followed up his record-tying round of 64 with a 3-under 69 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Australian Masters. The 21-year-old Pike, who led by one stroke after the first round, bogeyed the 17th and 18th holes Friday, his only blemishes in 36 holes on a course he played in a competitive round for the first time Thursday. In his first round, Pike, who is at 11-under 133, equaled the Hungtingdale course record set last year by Australian Nick O'Hern at the Masters. Justin Rose is in second place after he shot a 66 for a 9-under 135. "The 69 was a good score today," Pike said. "I missed two putts that I really should make and a couple of chances were also in there. But through the first two days I've definitely made my fair share so I can't really complain. Unfortunately I bogeyed the last two but those things happen." Pike said he is not overawed by the more seasoned golfers in the field. "Just because I'm leading and just because there are ranked world golfers breathing down my neck, I'm not going to go out there and all of a sudden hit a thousand balls tomorrow morning trying to get better -- there really wouldn't be any benefit," Pike said. "I've shown for the first two days that I can play. If I shoot 11-under again ... it's going to be hard for one of those guys to run over the top of me."
Defending champion Robert Allenby shot 71 Friday and is tied for 15th at 140, seven behind Pike. Rose bogeyed his last three holes Thursday, but didn't let that affect him in Friday's round. "I walked off the golf course and said, 'OK you finished bogey-bogey-bogey,' but I think it was the second-best score of the afternoon so it was still a really good start," said Rose. "So I looked at it positively." ©The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. |
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