SYDNEY: Globe-trotting Australian Marcus Fraser fired a three-under 69 to be the halfway leader of the OneAsia co-sanctioned Australian Open at The Lakes course yesterday.
Fraser, who has played on three continents in the past three weeks, holed four straight birdies and an eagle in the second round to lead the field at six-under into the weekend rounds.
He led by a shot from first round leader John Senden and fellow Australian Brendan Jones.
A further shot back was Australian Nick Cullen, who posted his first professional win this year at OneAsia’s Indonesia Open.
England’s world number four Justin Rose was among a group of six golfers at three-under.
Fraser has had a busy schedule leading into the Australian Open. “I was in America last week for the Tour school and it did not work out the way I would have liked,” he said.
“I pulled the pin early and got back on Monday morning to give myself an extra couple of days to get ready for this week.”
Fraser is fighting back from career-threatening neck surgery in 2010 and is on the cusp of the world’s top 50 after enjoying a career-best year in Europe.
“The surgeon replaced a disk in my neck, put an artificial disc in there, a carbon fibre cage around the disc and also a metal plate,” Fraser said of his operation.
AFP
