Golf: Baddeley throws down the gauntlet

Australian wonder boy Aaron Baddeley threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the field at the Greg Norman Holden International in Sydney.

On a day which saw Nick Faldo easily miss his second successive cut, 19-year-old Baddeley added a 68 to his opening 67 to reach halfway on 11-under-par with a total of 135.

Twice a winner of the Australian Open already, Baddeley joined the European Tour this week and is now 36 holes away from becoming only the fifth teenager to win.

The player who two years ago became the fourth, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, had led overnight and with nine holes to play today was sharing top spot with not only Baddeley, but also Welshman Phillip Price.

Garcia, now 21, had still to have a bogey all week at that stage and after three-putting the 515-yard second for par birdied the fourth and eighth to set up the prospect of a thrilling shoot-out of the young guns this weekend.

Price, the 34-year-old from Pontypridd who last year had easily his most successful season on tour, went to the turn in 32 to get in on the act.

Just a stroke behind - and also still out on the course - was Order of Merit leader Pierre Fulke along with two more emerging Australians, James McLean and Nathan Green. Tournament host Norman was two back with seven to go.

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton's Peter Baker was an inch away from equalling a European tour record as he raced into contention on seven under - after fearing he was heading out of the event.

Baker finished his 68 with seven birdies in eight holes and lipped out on the other.

Faldo knew he needed in the region of 68 to survive after taking a nine at the long 17th in his 76 yesterday. It did not come.

Resuming with a bogey made the task all the harder and with two more later in the round it became an exercise in damage limitation. Three birdies meant a level par 73 and at three over he was likely to miss out by five shots.

Justin Rose, twice second in South Africa last month, also stood three over with 16 to play, but then had three birdies and an eagle at the long second, his 11th. At two under, he must wait all afternoon to see if it was good enough.

German Sven Struver showed what he thought of a one-under aggregate. After slumping to a 75 he took his putter and broke it into two pieces across his knee.