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Rumford takes one-shot lead at Qatar Masters

Fri 29th, January 2010

Doha, Qatar (Sports Network) - Australia's Brett Rumford fired a six-under 66 on Friday to take a one-shot lead midway through the Qatar Masters.

Seeking his fourth European Tour win, Rumford finished two rounds on the Doha course at nine-under 135.

First round co-leader Bradley Dredge of Wales had a three-under 69 and slipped into second place at eight-under 136.

Englishmen Lee Westwood (69) and Oliver Wilson (70) are tied for third place at seven-under 137, with Swedes Niclas Fasth (68) and Robert Karlsson (70) another stroke further back at 138. Wilson had shared the first-round lead with Dredge.

Rumford is chasing his first victory since 2007, but his 36-hole lead is anything but secure.

There are 12 players within five shots of the 32-year-old Australian heading into the weekend, including top stars Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey, who are both at four-under 140. Miguel Angel Jimenez and Camilo Villegas are within seven shots.

After a windy first day in Doha, players were greeted with calmer conditions on Friday.

"It was much, much calmer and the scoring was there," said Rumford. "But [with] the greens being so firm and so fast, it really just comes down to driving and you can see why Lee Westwood's up there and quite a few of the stronger European Tour players."

Rumford, playing in the morning wave, started his second round with a birdie at the 10th hole. He added four more birdies on the back side of the course -- including a chip-in birdie at the 18th -- to make the turn in just 31 shots.

He made his third consecutive birdie at No. 1, then dropped his only shot of the round with a bogey at No. 5. Rumford birdied his last hole, the par-five ninth, to post his 66.

Shunning the scoreboards, Rumford didn't think about having the lead. He made some key up-and-downs and said he kept the momentum going by holing some nice putts.

"It was a lovely day's golf," he said.

Dredge, chasing his third win, had five birdies and two bogeys Friday to shoot two strokes worse than his opening round.

"It was a totally different day," he said. "You're hitting more normal shots, obviously, and I didn't hit the ball very well at all today. But it was still a great round, holed some good putts when I had to [and] the score is all that matters."

Charl Schwartzel, who has won his last two starts, kept alive his chances at making history. Schwartzel (69) is tied for seventh place at five-under 139, four shots back, as he attempts to join Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win three consecutive appearances on the European Tour.

NOTES: The cut line fell at two-over 146 with 68 players moving on to the third round...Ian Poulter and Colin Montgomerie were among those who missed the cut...Defending champion Alvaro Quiros (70) shares 14th place.