Scott Hend Takes Halftime Lead at BMW International Open

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Credit: Getty Images/Matthew Lewis

On another blustery day at Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof, Scott Hend turned in an impressive round of 5-under 67 to secure the halftime lead at the BMW International Open.

Credit: Getty Images/Matthew Lewis

The big-hitting Aussie started his day with a bogey on the 10th hole (his first) to fall to even-par for the tournament, but the 44-year old sandwiched two birdies (Nos. 12 and 17) between an eagle (Nos. 15) to turn in 33. Seven straight pars coming in was capped off by back-to-back birdies to close, allowing Hend to sign for a 67 and a two-day total of 6-under par 138.

“I just played conservatively,” said Hend, who has hit just 39% of his fairways this week. “Just trying to play on to the fairways and keep out of the long brown stuff.

“It’s just patience. When it’s this windy, if you’re not patient you’re going to get smashed, it’s as simple as that.

“If you try to push for a birdie or whatever, if you hit it in the rough and make a bogey, it’s great, if you get less than a bogey then it’s a bonus. It’s just one of those golf courses that is quite punishing.”

Swede Henric Sturehed (70) and Chilean Nico Geyger (69) were one back at 5-under par.

Overnight leader Sébastien Gros bogeyed his 17th hole (No. 8) to finish the day at even-par 72, and two back at 4-under par. The Frenchman sits T4 alongside Englishman Aaron Rai (71), Aussie Nick Cullen (68), and hometown favorites Martin Kaymer (68) and Maximilian Kieffer (69).

Rounding out the top 10, at 3 under, were the Denmark duo of Thorbjørn Olesen (68) and Søren Kjeldsen (69).

After second-round 69s, Belgian Thomas Pieters and England’s Matt Wallace lead a group of five players at 2-under par.

Tournament headliners Sergio Garcia (73-71) and Tommy Fleetwood (74-74) continued their struggles on Friday, but both made the cut. The Spaniard Garcia sits T24 at even-par 144, while the Englishman Fleetwood is T63 at 4-over par.


TOP 10

1. Scott Hend -6
2. Henric Sturehed -5
2. Nicolas Geyger -5
4. Sebastien Gros -4
4. Aaron Rai -4
4. Nick Cullen -4
4. Martin Kaymer -4
4. Maximilian Kieffer -4
9. Thorbjørn Olesen -3
9. Søren Kjeldsen -3

NOTABLES

11. Thomas Pieters -2
11. Matt Wallace -2
16. Scott Jamieson -1
16. Chris Paisley -1
16. Andy Sullivan -1
24. Jorge Campillo E
24. Sergio Garcia E
40. Andres Romero +2
52. Chris Wood +3
52. Chase Koepka +3
63. Tommy Fleetwood +4
63. Julian Suri +4

NOTABLES MISSING CUT

76. Thongchai Jaidee +5
87. Jeunghun Wang +6
100. Ernie Els +7
100. SSP Chawrasia +7
123. Matteo Manassero +9
150. Jose Maria Olazabal +17

NOTABLES WD/DQ

DQ Eddie Pepperell +5
WD Jamie Donaldson +15


VIDEO: SHOT OF THE DAY

Aaron Rai holes out for an ace on the par-3 16th hole. The Englishman posted a second-round 71 to sit T4 at 4-under par.

A post shared by European Tour (@europeantour) on


QUOTABLE

“It’s just patience. When it’s this windy, if you’re not patient you’re going to get smashed, it’s as simple as that.”
– Scott Hend

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