O’Malley the sole shining light in dismal week

Weekly Wrap :: October 17 - 23

It was veteran Aussie Peter O’Malley whose top five finish at the Mallorca Classic on the European tour that provided any joy for the Australian golfers last weekend alongside Unho Park’s seventh place finish on the Asian Tour.

Peter O’Malley has finished five shots off the pace at the Mallorca Classic in Spain behind Swedish golfer Niclas Fasth and local hero Sergio Garcia to finish in outright fifth spot on even par. O’Malley who carded rounds of 70-70-68-72 was at one stage one off the pace but fell away late on.

The New South Welshman picks up a cheque for €74200.00 ($A 122,845) and has qualified for the final event on the European calendar, the Volvo Masters. Peter Fowler was the next best Aussie with four over.

Unho Park has finished in a tie for seventh spot at the Indian Open last weekend, finishing on 11 under the card, some seven strokes behind winner Jyoti Randhawa who finished with 18 under. Fellow Aussie Scott Strange was a further two strokes back from Park finishing on nine under, whilst Terry Pilkadaris finished in fifteenth spot on seven under.

At the Funai Classic from Florida on the US PGA tour, John Senden and Stuart Appleby tied in 30th spot some 12 shots behind winner Joe Durant from America finishing on 13 under par. Fellow Aussies Stephen Leaney, Robert Allenby and Nathan Green finished both one, two and three strokes further back respectively.

On the LPGA tour Lindsey Wright was the leading Aussie at the Honda LPGA Thailand event after finishing in a tie for 27th after rounds of 69-73-73 leaving her on nine under the card, and some five shots back from winner Hee-Won Han of South Korea. The other Australian featuring at the event was Rachael Hetherington who completed rounds of 74-69-73 to finish in a tie for 31st, one shot back from Wright.

To the LPGA of Japan now, and it was Tamie Durdin who was the best placed Aussie with rounds of 72-75-71 leaving her in a tie for 29th spot, whilst compatriot Nikki Campbell failed to make the cut, after what has been a sensational season for her thus far.

The LPGA tour moves to South Korea this week for the Kolon Hana Bank Championship, where Aussies Rachael Hetherington and Lindsey Wright will feature. At the Volvo Masters on the European tour a strong field of Australian’s will complete, including Peter O’Malley, Brett Rumford and Richard Green, whilst at the Chrysler Championship on the PGA Tour, Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley, Adam Scott, John Senden and Stephen Leaney will compete.

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