Melbourne, Jan 31: Former English Amateur champion Paul Casey shot a 5-under-par second round of 67 to extend his lead to two strokes in the Heineken Classic in Melbourne, Australia on Friday (January 31). The 25-year-old was on 12-under-par 132, ahead of fellow Englishman David Lynn (69 65) after the second round of the event co-sanctioned by the European and Australasian Tours. Australian Open champion Stephen Allan, with a pair of 68s, was outright third on eight-under par 136. Casey, who broke U.S. college scoring records held by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson during his time at Arizona State University, carded two bogeys, five birdies and an eagle on the par-five ninth in his round. Steve Webster of England shot a 69 to stand on 7-under in fourth place, a shot clear of six players including Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (68) and Ian Poulter of England, who came in with the best round of the day, an 8-under 64. Ernie Els, the world number two from South Africa, followed his opening 70 with a 72 for a two-under-par total of 142. Els had five birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey on Friday, including a poor run of bogey, bogey, double-bogey.


The 33-year-old enjoyed an amazing start to the year, winning his first two tournaments in the United States and finishing second last week in Singapore after blowing a one-stroke lead on the 72nd hole.


Els also won his final event of 2002, the Sun City Challenge. Britain's six-time major winner Nick Faldo (69 71) was tied for 16th on four-under-par 140. Australia's former world number one Greg Norman (73 69) was level with Els on two-under-par 142.


Leading scores after the second round of the Heineken Classic at the par-72 Royal Melbourne course on Friday (Australia unless stated): 132 Paul Casey (Britain) 65 67 134 David Lynn (Britain) 69 65 136 Stephen Allan 68 68 137 Steve Webster (Britain) 68 69 138 Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 68 70, Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) 71 67, Ian Poulter (Britain) 74 64, John Bickerton (Britain) 68 70, Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 70 68, Richard Lee (New Zealand) 69 69 139 Peter Lonard 67 72, David Smail (New Zealand) 71 68, Ian Garbutt (Britain) 68 71, Peter Fowler 67 72, Arjun Atwal (India) 69 70 140 Fredrik Andersson (Sweden) 72 68, Santiago Luna (Spain) 66 74, Anthony Wall (Britain) 70 70, Stephen Scahill (New Zealand) 71 69, Gary Evans (Britain) 67 73, Nick Faldo (Britain) 69 71, Ricardo Gonzalez (Argentina) 68 72, Richard Green 69 71, Mahal Pearce (New Zealand) 71 69, Stephen Gallacher (Britain) 70 70

Bureau Report