MCB Road to Mauritius number two Adilson da Silva is in pole position for a fourth win of the season thanks to a solid second round to reach -7 at a blustery Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang.
He came into the week knowing he needed at least a top-5 and to finish ahead of Order of Merit leader Peter Baker to extend the race for the year-long crown to next week’s season-ending MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius, and he’s in an ideal position to close the gap at the summit with 18 holes left to play in Vietnam.
Da Silva briefly had a five-shot lead as he played the first 10 holes in -4, but a double bogey at the 6th – his 15th hole of the day – dropped him closer to the chasing pack. His 69 was still one of only eight rounds in the 60s as the windy conditions really started to dry the course out, especially the tricky paspalum greens.
“I was happy with a 69 today, because it was really tricky out there,” said the leader. “The wind was up and swelling. It was difficult to knock it close and tough on the greens as well. With the wind like that, you’ve got to compensate on your line when putting. Every day you can feel the greens getting a little bit quicker.”
Da Silva is hoping his winning experience this year can give him the edge in the final round: “It does help. I’m just trying to enjoy tomorrow and let it happen. Michael (Campbell) is a great champion, as I’ve said in the past. If I play my best and give myself a chance then I’ll be happy, whatever the result.”
Campbell, who has a best finish this season of tied-3rd at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, has moved into 2nd place courtesy of his 68. The former US Open champion came out to Vietnam to promote the tournament a few weeks ago and he’s living up to his superstar status. He started on the 10th and parred his first 10 holes, before climbing the leaderboard with four birdies in his last eight, although he did also bogey the 7th.
Joakim Haeggman and Andrew Marshall are tied-3rd on -4. Haeggman, the first Swedish player to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup, shot a joint-best of the day 67 that featured four birdies and no dropped shots. Marshall is playing in just his third Legends Tour event having turned 50 in late August, and he will start the final round three shots off the lead and needing at least a top-8 finish to qualify for next week’s MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius.
Mardan Mamat shot level par to be -3, and overnight co-leader Scott Hend was +3 in round 2 to slip back into a tie for 6th with recent Farmfoods European Masters winner Patrik Sjoland and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez on -2.
It was a disappointing day for MCB Road to Mauritius number one Baker, who signed for a an eventful 75 that included an eagle, one birdie, three bogeys and two double bogeys. The 1993 Ryder Cup player will go into the final round tied-17th on +2.
Malcolm Mackenzie had a hole-in-one on the 13th hole, with tournament sponsors Vinpearl rewarding the Englishman with a $10,000 Vinpearl voucher, and DIC Group giving him and his family a stay.
Visit www.legendstour.com to see the full leaderboard, final round tee times and find out more about the Vinpearl DIC Legends Vietnam at Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang, in association with headline sponsors VinFast, Vinpearl, Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang, VinWonders and DIC Group.
