Kai Fieberg Costa Rica Open 2006: Noren Increases his Lead
Sweden’s Alexander Noren produced a second consecutive round of four under par 67 at the Cariari Country Club to extend his lead at the European Challenge Tour’s Kai Fieberg Costa Rica Open 2006 to three shots over England’s Van Phillips, with the European pair holding off a typically strong push from the Central and South American Members of the Tour de las Americas (TLA) going into the final two rounds of the last of three joint-sanctioned TLA events of the 2006 season.

Ariel Canete of Argentina, who won his place on The European Tour through the 2005 Challenge Tour Rankings, is in third place on three under par 139 after a second round 69, while his countrymen Juan Abbate and Fabien Gomez are locked together on two under par – six shots behind Noren, and three behind Phillips. It was another exemplary display for Noren, who recovered from dropping a stroke on his first holes of the second round (the tenth hole) to produce five birdies and 11 pars on another typically windy day in Costa Rica’s Capital of San Jose.

Noren has been playing golf professionally for just six months, but he has made that look more like years over the opening two rounds of the Kai Fieberg Costa Rica Open 2006.

His game has not looked in doubt, and even when he bogeyed his first hole of the day on Friday morning, he never looked likely to relinquish the lead he had established on day one. The 23 year old cancelled out his bogey by picking up a stroke on the par five 14th, which was quickly followed up by back to back birdies on the 16th and 17th holes before he picked another two birdies on the front nine to post an eight under aggregate of 134.

“I found it was easier today,” said Noren after signing for another 67. “I played very consistent golf and it didn’t fell like there were any bad shots at all. But, at the same time, I know that it could have been better and that is a good thing because it gives me something to aim for and to work on.”

Noren now has to work on keeping the chasing pack behind him at bay for another two rounds. The Swede leads Phillips by three and Canete by five shots but if the gusting winds that protect the Cariari Country Club venue start to pick up then the golf course will become a different proposition.

Phillips is beginning to show some of the form that made him The European Tour’s 1999 Portuguese Open champion. The Englishman has struggled with his game over the past few seasons, but has shown glimpses of the player who won at the very highest level in 1999.

He began his round on the first tee and went to the turn in one under par 34 before coming home in two under to post a second round 68 for five under 137 and leave himself very much in contention for the fist win of his career since his triumph in Portugal over five years ago.