Rock Steady in Italian Open Lead

English veteran Robert Rock now 12 under for Italian Open after Friday

TURIN, June 10, 2011 (AFP) - English veteran Robert Rock, still searching for a maiden European Tour title, carded a second round four under par 68 to take a one shot lead at the Italian Open on Friday.

Rock, now 12 under par for the tournament, leads from compatriot and first round joint-leader Chris Wood and Dutchman Joost Luiten.

"I hope I can keep this feel for the next couple of days here and take that into the US Open next week - that would be great. I’m excited about playing the US Open. My long game can handle it, but can my putting stand up to it as well?" said Rock.

"All I can do is work hard and keep practising and hope that a win will eventually happen. Some people manage it straight away and some take a bit of time and I’ve passed 200 tournaments now.

"I hadn’t attempted to qualify for the US Open before so it’s going to be a great experience going to Congressional next week."

Wood is also looking for a maiden European Tour victory, having seen his four shot final round lead overhauled by Darren Clarke in Mallorca last month, and carded five birdies and two bogeys in a 69.

Six players are tied for fourth on 10 under - including home trio Matteo Manassero, Francesco Molinari and Lorenzo Gagli.

Playing in his home city of Turin, Ryder Cup star Molinari carded a second round 68, and was joined not only by his compatriots but also in-form Frenchman Grégory Bourdy, Welshman Rhys Davies and England’s Gary Boyd.

 

Leading and selected Italian Open second round scores at the Royal Park club on Friday (GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72):

132 - Robert Rock 64-68

133 - Chris Wood 64-69, Joost Luiten (NED) 66-67

134 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 66-68, Gary Boyd 69-65, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 66-68, Rhys Davies 66-68, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 66-68, Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 68-66

135 - Anthony Wall 67-68, Brett Rumford (AUS) 69-66, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 69-66, Floris De Vries (NED) 71-64, Peter Whiteford 68-67, Jbe Kruger (RSA) 69-66, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 73-62, Andreas Harto (DEN) 69-66

136 - Richie Ramsay 67-69, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 65-71, Seve Benson 69-67

137 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 72-65, Steve Webster 70-67, Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 69-68, David Horsey 68-69, Darren Clarke 71-66, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 67-70, Florian Fritsch (GER) 69-68, Thomas Norret (DEN) 69-68, Stephen Dodd 67-70, Andrew Marshall 70-67, Michael Jonzon (SWE) 69-68, Alexandre Kaleka (FRA) 66-71, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 71-66

138 - Lee Slattery 71-67, Niclas Fasth (SWE) 69-69, Phillip Price 70-68, Cesar Monasterio (ARG) 69-69, Lloyd Saltman 70-68, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 68-70

Selected:

139 - Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 67-72, Hennie Otto (RSA) 70-69

140 - Wade Ormsby (AUS) 71-69, Scott Strange (AUS) 72-68, George Coetzee (RSA) 70-70, Michiel Bothma (RSA) 69-71

Missed cut:

141 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 74-67

142 - Jason Knutzon (USA) 70-72

143 - Scott Hend (AUS) 68-75

144 - Matthew Zions (AUS) 73-71, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69-75

145 - Andrew Tampion (AUS) 73-72, Colin Montgomerie 75-70, Paul McGinley 75-70

146 - Nick Dougherty 73-73, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (IND) 73-73, Anthony Kang (USA) 70-76, Costantino Rocca (ITA) 75-71, Peter O'Malley (AUS) 72-74

147 - Shaun Norris (RSA) 73-74

149 - Mark Brown (NZL) 76-73

150 - Rick Kulacz (AUS) 74-76