Luiten leads by two in Austria

Joost Luiten will take a two-stroke lead into the weekend after a seven-under-par 63 second round at the Euram Bank Open.

236
Joost Luiten leads rd 2 by two shots at Euram Bank Open

Joost Luiten finds himself at the top of a leaderboard in Austria for the second week in a row after a seven-under-par second round at the Euram Bank Open.

The Dutchman carded a seven under par 63, adding to his five under par first round, for a 12 under par total, currently sitting two strokes ahead of Frenchman Joël Stalter and Sweden’s Philip Eriksson at Golf Club Adamstal.

Luiten, a six-time European Tour winner, started the day with two birdies and an eagle on his first five holes and made another gain on the ninth, going out in just 31 strokes. Three birdies followed on the back nine before a bogey on the last for a 12 under par total.

The 34-year-old led the first round of last week’s Austrian Open, eventually finishing in a share of 18th place.

“You never want to finish with a bogey,” said Luiten. “I missed the green, hit a decent chip and missed a short putt from about eight foot. All in all it was a good day and I don’t want to ruin it just because of the bogey on the last. I need to take the positives into the weekend.

“There were 17 great holes really, I haven’t been in a lot of trouble or missed a lot of greens, even though it was tricky out there with the wind picking up a bit and the rain coming in. I’m really happy with seven under.”

Luiten was caught in the worst of the conditions over the first two days of the Euram Bank Open as rain developed in the area and continued for the rest of the afternoon.

“It was more difficult than yesterday, because of the wind. It’s hard to judge where it comes from up in the mountain. In the middle of the round it really picked up and when the rain came in it died down a little again. It was a tough day.

“There’s a couple of tricky holes out there, you shouldn’t really think too much about it, get on with it and run up that hill so you have time to rest. That’s the fun of the course, it makes it such a beautiful place.”

Stalter had set the clubhouse lead at 10 under par earlier in the day with a second consecutive 65, and will head in to the weekend two behind Luiten.

The Frenchman joined the overnight leaders early in his round after a hole out eagle from 112 yards on the par five third hole, and after birdies followed on the sixth, ninth and tenth, he parred his way home to sign for a bogey-free 65.

“I had a great round today,” said Stalter. “I really had it going on the front nine and then on the back nine I gave myself a lot of chances, I didn’t make them but it’s still really solid. Bogey free round, you’ll always take those. The eagle was amazing. I hit my driver in the bunker then laid up and holed out from 112 yards. It was a really nice feeling.

“The pins were tucked. It was windy but I gave myself a lot of chances. I had six feet for birdie on 13, ten feet for birdie on 14. I just didn’t make those, and on 16 I lipped out. It was tough to get close to the pins, but great playing. That’s golf, you make some putts, then cool down. At the end of the day it’s a great round.”

He was later joined by Eriksson, who followed up his opening round 64 with a four under par 66. The Swede got off to a hot start with two birdies in his first three holes, and recovered from a dropped shot at the fourth with back-to-back birdies at the seventh and eighth holes.

Navigating the tough afternoon conditions, Eriksson responded to a bogey on 13 with birdies at both 14 and 17 before getting up and down at the last for a closing par.

“I’m playing pretty similar to last week – solid golf and hitting the putter really well,” said Eriksson. “It’s good fun playing out there right now.

“This is what you want, coming out to the first tournaments, being in contention right away and feeling the heat. I’ve tried to get some practice back home, challenging friends, but it’s not really the same. Nothing beats playing in a big tournament like this.

“It was very windy in the beginning. It was quite tough. Then the rain came after eight holes, that made it even tougher. There’s probably two holes you don’t want the rain on 11 and 13, and it came on both of those. I struggled a little off the tee on one of the holes, otherwise it’s been very nice with a lot of birdie chances. I had a nice up and down on the last for par, but mainly I’ve been hitting greens in regulation.

“It’s more what you need in the bag on days like today. You need all your gear. I didn’t bring a rain jacket, just an umbrella and a shirt. It takes more energy, but I’m keeping my focus out there, trying to stay in the present and doing a good job out there.”

Frenchman Julien Brun sits one stroke behind Stalter and Eriksson after a six under par 64, with Chris Robb, John Catlin, Cristofer Blomstrand and first round leader Deyen Lawson a shot further back on eight under.

Scott Fernandez, who carded the round of the day – an eight under par 62 – is part of a group of eight players on seven under.

European Tour Release, July 17, 2020