Justin Rose Closes In

Despite a disappointing finish, which featured bogeys at both the 17th and 18th holes, Australian amateur Aaron Pike held onto the halfway lead in the MasterCard Masters at Huntingdale Golf Club, but his nearest challenger going into the weekend is now the resurgent Englishman Justin Rose.Pike, a burly 21 year old who only took up the game full time five years ago after devoting his early sporting attention to cricket, looked to be cruising into a comfortable 36 hole lead when five birdies in his first 16 holes moved him to 13 under par for the tournament and four shots clear of the field.

But as Rose found on the opening day when he shed shots at the 16th, 17th and 18th, the closing stretch of the testing Melbourne layout is demanding and Pike, who equalled the course record 64 on the opening day, carded bogeys at the last two holes to finish with a 69 and an 11 under par total of 133.

While Pike was the last man to tee off in round two, second placed Rose took advantage of his early start to signify his intentions of claiming his third European Tour title in this, a co-sanctioned event between The European Tour and the Australasian Tour.