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SO Day Two

SO Day Two

Friday, July 16, 2010 - 15:42

The 138 pros from 12 countries competing at the Scandinavian Open have now reached the midway point of this year’s PDGA Tour EuroMajor event, and there are a bunch of familiar names at the top of the leader boards.

Tomas Ekstrom

Latitude 64s Tomas Ekstom is being inducted into the DG Hall of Fame

In the Open division Nikko Locastro’s course record 11 down 55 vaulted him into a share of first. Nikko opened with 3 birds but 4 consecutive pars then left him perplexed before his A game returned. He birdied 8 of the last 11 holes including a 14m/46’ jump putt on #12 and a 25 footer on 18 for the record. Tied with him at -20 is fellow American Dave Feldberg who saved the best for last when he canned a crazy 31m/102’ jump putt on 18 for his 2nd consecutive 56.

Nikko 1

Nikko gets ready to birdie 6 of the back 9

For a while it looked like home course star Jesper Lundmark and his bag of yellow Latitude 64 discs might distance himself from Team USA – he led by 3 after shooting a 7 down 28 on the opening “Black Nine.” However uncharacteristic bogeys on 105m/344’ #12 and the 108m/354’ #14 left Jesper 1 back of the leaders with a 57. Rounding out the lead card once again on day 3 will be Minnesota’s Flying Finn, Cale Leiviska, whose 2nd straight 58 was punctuated by a remarkable up and down birdie on #16 from 115m/375’ and a restricted lie in the birch trees. Denmark’s Karl Johan Nybo remains 5th among the 99 Open division players after a pair of 59s.

Cale on 2

Cale's bird on #2

Jesper on 6

Jesper had a dunk for birdie 3 on #6

2004 World Champ and long time European #1, Birgitta Lagerholm, vaulted into a 5 stroke lead with an excellent round of 67, the best score by a woman by 4 throws so far. Sitting second and continuing her solid play is Oregon’s Melody King. Orebro Sweden’s Karin Magnolt sits in 3rd place, 2 back of Melody, after shooting 71.

Bigge on 18

Bigge hit her par putt on 18

Melody King

Melody is having nothing but fun in Europe

Among the Masters, Dan “the Quiet Man” Johansson, had a 5 down 61 to open up a 4 shot lead over fellow Swede Robert Buzasy. Finland’s Kari Vesala and another Swede, Peter Bygde, round out the 990+ rated “Old Boys” lead card.

Espen Mokkeljaerd

Norway's Espen Mokkeljaerd

While the leaders played hot, the shot of the day undoubtedly belonged to Finland’s Markus Mäntylä. He ACED the more or less level 139m/456’ #18 (say what?!) with a lefty backhand.

Cale on 16

Cale's unlikely birdie 3 on 16

While tomorrow’s forecast is calling for warm and sunny conditions, Sunday is expected to be wet so it’s anybody’s game. Stay tuned for more coverage from Skellefteå as Europe and USA’s finest continue to battle for the chance to take home the EuroMajor event titles.

Nikko on 18

Nikko's birdie on 18 for the course record