
Ferguson takes charge of Soudal Open with brilliant 64
Scotland's Ewen Ferguson shot a stunning second-round 64 to move into a three-shot halfway lead at the Soudal Open in Antwerp.
The 28-year-old Scot carded seven birdies at Rinkven International GC as he completed a second successive bogey-free round for an 11-under-par total.
It carried him three shots clear of England's Marco Penge, with Dutch pair Joost Luiten and Darius Van Driel, American Troy Merritt and English trio John Parry, Brandon Robinson Thompson and Andrew Wilson sharing third on seven under.
Ferguson said: "I quite enjoy when a par is a good score. I find it tough sometimes when you just need to make birdies and there's a lot of pressure on to make birdies.
"So when it's quite tough like that to grind out pars, I feel comfortable with that because that's how I was brought up playing and in Scotland par is a brilliant score."
Jason Scrivener, the lone Australian at the Belgian tournament, was six shots behind the leader in a share of ninth place, after a second-round 68.
Scotland's Ewen Ferguson shot a stunning second-round 64 to move into a three-shot halfway lead at the Soudal Open in Antwerp.
The 28-year-old Scot carded seven birdies at Rinkven International GC as he completed a second successive bogey-free round for an 11-under-par total.
It carried him three shots clear of England's Marco Penge, with Dutch pair Joost Luiten and Darius Van Driel, American Troy Merritt and English trio John Parry, Brandon Robinson Thompson and Andrew Wilson sharing third on seven under.
Ferguson said: "I quite enjoy when a par is a good score. I find it tough sometimes when you just need to make birdies and there's a lot of pressure on to make birdies.
"So when it's quite tough like that to grind out pars, I feel comfortable with that because that's how I was brought up playing and in Scotland par is a brilliant score."
Jason Scrivener, the lone Australian at the Belgian tournament, was six shots behind the leader in a share of ninth place, after a second-round 68.
Scotland's Ewen Ferguson shot a stunning second-round 64 to move into a three-shot halfway lead at the Soudal Open in Antwerp.
The 28-year-old Scot carded seven birdies at Rinkven International GC as he completed a second successive bogey-free round for an 11-under-par total.
It carried him three shots clear of England's Marco Penge, with Dutch pair Joost Luiten and Darius Van Driel, American Troy Merritt and English trio John Parry, Brandon Robinson Thompson and Andrew Wilson sharing third on seven under.
Ferguson said: "I quite enjoy when a par is a good score. I find it tough sometimes when you just need to make birdies and there's a lot of pressure on to make birdies.
"So when it's quite tough like that to grind out pars, I feel comfortable with that because that's how I was brought up playing and in Scotland par is a brilliant score."
Jason Scrivener, the lone Australian at the Belgian tournament, was six shots behind the leader in a share of ninth place, after a second-round 68.
Scotland's Ewen Ferguson shot a stunning second-round 64 to move into a three-shot halfway lead at the Soudal Open in Antwerp.
The 28-year-old Scot carded seven birdies at Rinkven International GC as he completed a second successive bogey-free round for an 11-under-par total.
It carried him three shots clear of England's Marco Penge, with Dutch pair Joost Luiten and Darius Van Driel, American Troy Merritt and English trio John Parry, Brandon Robinson Thompson and Andrew Wilson sharing third on seven under.
Ferguson said: "I quite enjoy when a par is a good score. I find it tough sometimes when you just need to make birdies and there's a lot of pressure on to make birdies.
"So when it's quite tough like that to grind out pars, I feel comfortable with that because that's how I was brought up playing and in Scotland par is a brilliant score."
Jason Scrivener, the lone Australian at the Belgian tournament, was six shots behind the leader in a share of ninth place, after a second-round 68.

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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Clutch Kupcho ends near three-year LPGA drought
Jennifer Kupcho has closed with an eight-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee in the LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes in New Jersey for a five-under 66. She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green on the 14th, and avoided a playoff with the putt on 18. Lee was the 36-hole leader going into the final round on a rain-soaked Bay Course at Seaview Hotel, so drenched that the par-3 17th was moved up to play only 76 yards. The South Korean finished with five birdies on the back nine for a 68, but it wasn't enough to catch Kupcho. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. "I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number," the 28-year-old American said. "Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time." The 36-year-old Lee won her only LPGA title 12 years ago in the Bahamas on a course shortened to 12 holes because of historic rain. But she had played only 18 times in the last seven years, finishing off her college degree, working briefly and now a part-time golf teacher. "I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out," the world No.1426, who got into the field as a past tournament winner, said. "Then I realise, 'Oh, I'm good at golf.' So I got to teach golf. I started teaching a little bit, not full-time, but I was teaching a little bit and I loved it. I absolutely loved it. "So since then I was teaching a little bit and playing at the same time and rehabbing, more treatment on my shoulder and back and ankle. I still have few students waiting for me in LA so I get to see them next week." Kupcho gets a much-needed win after going without a trophy after her three-win 2022 season. "It just feels amazing," she said. "I think I struggled a lot early in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of hard conversations, and it feels good." South Korea's Sei Young Kim (65) was the third-place finisher, three strokes behind Kupcho. Japan's Ayaka Furue (70) was fourth at 11 under while six golfers tied for fifth at 10 under: South Korea's Jin Hee Im (68), Spain's Azahara Munoz (68), Germany's Aline Krauter (68), Japan's Mao Saigo (71), Miyu Yamashita (69) and Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu (69). World No.1 Nelly Korda (68) tied for 15th at eight under. Australia's Roby Choi, who started the final round three shots off the lead, carded a 70 to finish nine under and joint 11th. With Reuters & AAP. Jennifer Kupcho has closed with an eight-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee in the LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes in New Jersey for a five-under 66. She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green on the 14th, and avoided a playoff with the putt on 18. Lee was the 36-hole leader going into the final round on a rain-soaked Bay Course at Seaview Hotel, so drenched that the par-3 17th was moved up to play only 76 yards. The South Korean finished with five birdies on the back nine for a 68, but it wasn't enough to catch Kupcho. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. "I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number," the 28-year-old American said. "Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time." The 36-year-old Lee won her only LPGA title 12 years ago in the Bahamas on a course shortened to 12 holes because of historic rain. But she had played only 18 times in the last seven years, finishing off her college degree, working briefly and now a part-time golf teacher. "I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out," the world No.1426, who got into the field as a past tournament winner, said. "Then I realise, 'Oh, I'm good at golf.' So I got to teach golf. I started teaching a little bit, not full-time, but I was teaching a little bit and I loved it. I absolutely loved it. "So since then I was teaching a little bit and playing at the same time and rehabbing, more treatment on my shoulder and back and ankle. I still have few students waiting for me in LA so I get to see them next week." Kupcho gets a much-needed win after going without a trophy after her three-win 2022 season. "It just feels amazing," she said. "I think I struggled a lot early in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of hard conversations, and it feels good." South Korea's Sei Young Kim (65) was the third-place finisher, three strokes behind Kupcho. Japan's Ayaka Furue (70) was fourth at 11 under while six golfers tied for fifth at 10 under: South Korea's Jin Hee Im (68), Spain's Azahara Munoz (68), Germany's Aline Krauter (68), Japan's Mao Saigo (71), Miyu Yamashita (69) and Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu (69). World No.1 Nelly Korda (68) tied for 15th at eight under. Australia's Roby Choi, who started the final round three shots off the lead, carded a 70 to finish nine under and joint 11th. With Reuters & AAP. Jennifer Kupcho has closed with an eight-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee in the LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes in New Jersey for a five-under 66. She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green on the 14th, and avoided a playoff with the putt on 18. Lee was the 36-hole leader going into the final round on a rain-soaked Bay Course at Seaview Hotel, so drenched that the par-3 17th was moved up to play only 76 yards. The South Korean finished with five birdies on the back nine for a 68, but it wasn't enough to catch Kupcho. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. "I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number," the 28-year-old American said. "Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time." The 36-year-old Lee won her only LPGA title 12 years ago in the Bahamas on a course shortened to 12 holes because of historic rain. But she had played only 18 times in the last seven years, finishing off her college degree, working briefly and now a part-time golf teacher. "I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out," the world No.1426, who got into the field as a past tournament winner, said. "Then I realise, 'Oh, I'm good at golf.' So I got to teach golf. I started teaching a little bit, not full-time, but I was teaching a little bit and I loved it. I absolutely loved it. "So since then I was teaching a little bit and playing at the same time and rehabbing, more treatment on my shoulder and back and ankle. I still have few students waiting for me in LA so I get to see them next week." Kupcho gets a much-needed win after going without a trophy after her three-win 2022 season. "It just feels amazing," she said. "I think I struggled a lot early in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of hard conversations, and it feels good." South Korea's Sei Young Kim (65) was the third-place finisher, three strokes behind Kupcho. Japan's Ayaka Furue (70) was fourth at 11 under while six golfers tied for fifth at 10 under: South Korea's Jin Hee Im (68), Spain's Azahara Munoz (68), Germany's Aline Krauter (68), Japan's Mao Saigo (71), Miyu Yamashita (69) and Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu (69). World No.1 Nelly Korda (68) tied for 15th at eight under. Australia's Roby Choi, who started the final round three shots off the lead, carded a 70 to finish nine under and joint 11th. With Reuters & AAP. Jennifer Kupcho has closed with an eight-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee in the LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes in New Jersey for a five-under 66. She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green on the 14th, and avoided a playoff with the putt on 18. Lee was the 36-hole leader going into the final round on a rain-soaked Bay Course at Seaview Hotel, so drenched that the par-3 17th was moved up to play only 76 yards. The South Korean finished with five birdies on the back nine for a 68, but it wasn't enough to catch Kupcho. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. "I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number," the 28-year-old American said. "Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time." The 36-year-old Lee won her only LPGA title 12 years ago in the Bahamas on a course shortened to 12 holes because of historic rain. But she had played only 18 times in the last seven years, finishing off her college degree, working briefly and now a part-time golf teacher. "I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out," the world No.1426, who got into the field as a past tournament winner, said. "Then I realise, 'Oh, I'm good at golf.' So I got to teach golf. I started teaching a little bit, not full-time, but I was teaching a little bit and I loved it. I absolutely loved it. "So since then I was teaching a little bit and playing at the same time and rehabbing, more treatment on my shoulder and back and ankle. I still have few students waiting for me in LA so I get to see them next week." Kupcho gets a much-needed win after going without a trophy after her three-win 2022 season. "It just feels amazing," she said. "I think I struggled a lot early in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of hard conversations, and it feels good." South Korea's Sei Young Kim (65) was the third-place finisher, three strokes behind Kupcho. Japan's Ayaka Furue (70) was fourth at 11 under while six golfers tied for fifth at 10 under: South Korea's Jin Hee Im (68), Spain's Azahara Munoz (68), Germany's Aline Krauter (68), Japan's Mao Saigo (71), Miyu Yamashita (69) and Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu (69). World No.1 Nelly Korda (68) tied for 15th at eight under. Australia's Roby Choi, who started the final round three shots off the lead, carded a 70 to finish nine under and joint 11th. With Reuters & AAP.


7NEWS
5 hours ago
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Pat Cummins sends ominous warning ahead of WTC final against South Africa
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West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Clutch Kupcho ends near three-year LPGA drought
Jennifer Kupcho has closed with an eight-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee in the LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes in New Jersey for a five-under 66. She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green on the 14th, and avoided a playoff with the putt on 18. Lee was the 36-hole leader going into the final round on a rain-soaked Bay Course at Seaview Hotel, so drenched that the par-3 17th was moved up to play only 76 yards. The South Korean finished with five birdies on the back nine for a 68, but it wasn't enough to catch Kupcho. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. "I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number," the 28-year-old American said. "Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time." The 36-year-old Lee won her only LPGA title 12 years ago in the Bahamas on a course shortened to 12 holes because of historic rain. But she had played only 18 times in the last seven years, finishing off her college degree, working briefly and now a part-time golf teacher. "I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out," the world No.1426, who got into the field as a past tournament winner, said. "Then I realise, 'Oh, I'm good at golf.' So I got to teach golf. I started teaching a little bit, not full-time, but I was teaching a little bit and I loved it. I absolutely loved it. "So since then I was teaching a little bit and playing at the same time and rehabbing, more treatment on my shoulder and back and ankle. I still have few students waiting for me in LA so I get to see them next week." Kupcho gets a much-needed win after going without a trophy after her three-win 2022 season. "It just feels amazing," she said. "I think I struggled a lot early in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of hard conversations, and it feels good." South Korea's Sei Young Kim (65) was the third-place finisher, three strokes behind Kupcho. Japan's Ayaka Furue (70) was fourth at 11 under while six golfers tied for fifth at 10 under: South Korea's Jin Hee Im (68), Spain's Azahara Munoz (68), Germany's Aline Krauter (68), Japan's Mao Saigo (71), Miyu Yamashita (69) and Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu (69). World No.1 Nelly Korda (68) tied for 15th at eight under. Australia's Roby Choi, who started the final round three shots off the lead, carded a 70 to finish nine under and joint 11th. With Reuters & AAP.