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Park heads Holden field after 65
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Park heads Holden field after 65

David Park of Wales, who made such a spectacular break into the big time last summer, opened up a two-stroke lead over Scot Andrew Coltart after the second round of the Greg Norman Holden International at The Lakes GC, Sydney.

Park, who lost a play-off for the Moroccan Open on his European Tour debut and won the Compaq European Grand Prix the following week, made amends for missing the halfway cut at the Heineken Classic in Perth last week.

After opening with a 68, to lie two strokes behind Maarten Lafeber and Gary Emerson after the first day, the former Walker Cup player – making his first visit to Australia - added an eight under par 65 for a 13 under par total of 133.

Coltart, who was one of Mark James’s Ryder Cup wild cards at Brookline last year, returned a 68 to go alongside his first day 67 and is himself one ahead of third-placed Australian Lucas Parsons.

A year ago Park did not even hold a European Tour card, but when the chance came to play the Moroccan Open in June he led most of the way before losing a six-hole play-off to Miguel Angel Martin.

That earned him a start in the following week's Compaq European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall near Newcastle, and this time he held on to win the title by a single shot.

Park, who is coached by former Welsh World Cup winner David Llewellyn, finished the season with winnings of €274,076 (£195,076) and now a winner's cheque of nearly £150,000, the richest ever offered in Australia, is in his sights.

"I didn't expect to be 13 under after two rounds - I never expect that," he said. "But the greens were perfect and I even missed quite a few chances."

Park birdied five of the first six holes to establish an advantage over Coltart, who is seeking his third win in Australia. The Scot could not quite resume where he left off in his first round - eight under for seven holes on the back nine - but after a bogey six on the 14th, his fifth, he hit back with six birdies.

Coltart commented: "A win would be unexpected given that last week was the first time I had played since November. But after a break your batteries are recharged, you're raring to go and poor shots don't bother you as much,"

As overnight leaders Emerson and Lafeber fell back into the chasing pack, the best round of the day came from Adelaide amateur Adam Scott - a course record-equalling 63 which contained six birdies in a row followed immediately by an eagle on the 14th.

It was one of the lowest rounds ever played by an amateur in a professional tournament and the 19-year-old, who improved from two over to eight under, believes he can now go on and win. His fellow amateur Aaron Baddeley, shock 18-year-old winner of the Australian Open 10 weeks ago, only just survived the halfway cut after a 73.

Former Open champion John Daly is 10 behind after a 70 - again achieved without a wood in his bag - but Emerson and Lafeber discovered what a difference a day can make. Lafeber had a 74 to slip to six under, but that was nothing compared to Emerson's fall from top spot. He bogeyed his first four holes, had another to turn in 42 and when he double-bogeyed the 384-yard fifth he was right on the cut mark.To his credit, though, Emerson bounced back to finish at three under.

Two players they do not have to worry about any more are tournament host Norman and this season's European number one Michael Campbell. Norman failed to survive the cut in his own event for the second year running and New Zealander Campbell, winner of his last two tournaments, crashed out as well. A total of 80 players made the cut on a score of 146 and better.

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