Casey leads English raiders in Melbourne

Paul Casey was leading an English raid on the Heineken Classic in Melbourne after shooting a five-under-par second round of 67.

It was more than enough for the 25-year-old to retain his place on top of the leaderboard and in doing so set the clubhouse target at 12 under.

“Today was a lot tougher than yesterday,” he said.

“The couple of dropped shots I had were not unforced errors like I had yesterday. I am very happy with the way I played.

“There were plenty of birdie opportunities out there if you put the ball in the right places. The greens are good, but it’s a patience game out there. I think I have handled that well out there the last two days.”

Casey was in familiar company among a clutch of Englishmen dominating the upper reaches of the leaderboard.

Six of the top nine players were English, with Ian Garbutt, Anthony Wall and Gary Evans all in touch.

David Lynn had secured a provisional second place on 10 under with a round of 65 which included just the one dropped shot.

Australian Open champion Stephen Allen was sandwiched in third place on eight under, while John Bickerton and Steve Webster were all a shot further back.

Ian Poulter and Nick Faldo had progressed to six under par, joining Scandinavian finishers Niclas Fasth and Soren Kjeldsen.

Poulter staged a thrilling recovery from an overnight two over par to reach the 14th on a faultless nine under for the day.

His round had included seven birdies and an eagle on the par-five 10th after he had got back on even par with successive birdies on the opening two holes.

Poulter reached the turn in a five-under-par 31 and was on target for a course record. He is no stranger to low scores.

His Italian Open title last year was kick-started by an opening round of 61, the lowest by any winner on the Tour in 2002.

Casey, who led on seven under after Thursday’s rain-ravaged opening, picked up five more shots in a blustery but warm Royal Melbourne course.

The 25-year-old had spoken of his frustration at peppering impressive rounds with needless bogeys – and he did so twice, dropping shots at the fourth and 11th.

But he made up for it by sinking the tournament’s first eagle on the ninth and five birdies to post a 36-hole total of 132.

Casey began the day with a birdie on the first and, despite the dropped shot on four, he reached the turn in a three-under-par 33.

A birdie three on the 10th was ruined by that slip on 11, but consecutive threes on the par-four 14th and 15th left him on top.

Lynn moved from his overnight three under to join Allan on minus eight after the Australian had sunk three birdies in his first eight holes to surge into second spot.

He refused to get carried away with his success and was determined to follow the old cliché and take each round as it comes.

“I’m in a great position but I’ve got to keep my head down and see what happens,” he said.

“Try and put the lights out. I have nothing to lose.”

Australian Open champion Allen began the day on four under and sunk three birdies in his first five holes to move into second place.

The 29-year-old from Melbourne, who won the Open title on the neighbouring Victoria Golf Course, suffered the mid-round jitters – dropping shots either side of the turn on the 18th and the first to slip from seven under back to minus five.

But a run of three birdies on the home straight left Allan with a pair of 68s for a clubhouse total of 136.

It was a roller-coaster second round for defending champion Ernie Els, who eventually finished on level par to remain on two under for the tournament. But it was a battle. He improved on his overnight score with successive birdies but dropped five shots on a disastrous outward nine.

The pre-tournament favourite played the back nine steadily, sinking two birdies for a hard-fought 72.

“I have lost my rhythm again this week,” said the South African, who came into the tournament on the back of two wins and a second place in the last three weeks.

“I don’t think I hit one right club today. The wind played with us.”