Appleby, Badds climb PGA leader board

Saturday, 26 November 2011 01:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Australians Stuart Appleby and Aaron Baddeley have pulled off late salvage missions in the second round of the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum

Appleby, who started the day at two under par following an opening 70, was on fire with five straight birdies to jump to seven under before dropping three shots to end his outward nine.

He picked up another two birdies on the front nine to get back to six under after 16 holes, just one behind pacesetter Shih-chan Chan of Chinese Taipei who had one hole to play.

Baddeley’s round was reminiscent of Adam’s Scott’s great recovery on Thursday.

The Victorian teed off at five under, one shot behind overnight leaders Joon-woo Choi and Steven Bowditch, but slumped to even par after surrendering five shots in his first seven holes.

He took 39 shots to cover the back nine.

But like Scott, he tore the less demanding front nine apart, draining four birdies in the first six holes to climb back to five under. Local hope Bowditch returned to his home course on Friday like he was ready to blow his rivals away.Three birdies in five holes shot him to nine under, three clear of the field, until he dropped four shots on two par fives - a bogey at the third followed by an eight at the 498m fifth.

Bowditch said after his opening round 66 that he had “no idea” what Friday would bring.

It was prescient. He eventually walked off the course with a one-over-par 73 to be five under for the tournament.