Three-way tie at Nordea

bruced
May 30, 2014

Victor Dubuisson, Alvaro Quiros and Eddie Pepperell share the lead at the halfway stage of the Nordea Masters in Sweden.

While the trio are tied on six under after two rounds in gusty Malmo, it was Quiros who shot the round of the day with a scintillating five under 67.

Starting on the ninth, the Spaniard eagled the 11th and birdied the 15th and 18th, then hit his second shot to within five feet of the pin on the par five first. He rolled it in for another well earned eagle.

“I’ve been hitting the ball very well from tee to green, but even with the scores I’ve had I have not putted great,” revealed the 31-year-old.

“I had one putt from eight metres for eagle on 11, but apart from that I’ve had a lot of putts from around five or six metres and not holed any. So even though I’m happy I could have putted better.

“This course is playing a few holes long, and even the short ones are feeling easy. My length helps but the important thing is to control it. The distance control is hard in this wind though. At least it was warmer today than yesterday.”

Meanwhile, Dubuisson carded his second three under 69 of the tournament with four birdies and a bogey.

“It’s a great score,” said the Frenchman.

“I played good today. It was more difficult than yesterday because the wind was in a different direction and it made some of the par fives difficult to make birdie on. My short game was good and that was important.”

Pepperell’s three birdies erased the damage of a bogey at the 15th and double bogey at the fourth, to see him end on even par.

“I did pretty well today,” said the 23-year-old from England.

“I shot level par which I think is pretty good today; it was so windy out there. No hole was easy, it seemed, so I’m very pleased to be in a share of the lead still heading into the weekend.

“The course showed its teeth today. It becomes fun when it is this tough as everyone else is finding it hard.

World number two Henrik Stenson is one shot off the pace after shooting a two under 70.

“I played better today than I did yesterday and of course I would have wished for a bit more,” said the big Swede, whose shot landed in the water at the 17th.