Early bird Dinwiddie makes cut

Jun 14 2008 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

ROBERT Dinwiddie made the halfway cut in his first major yesterday to set up a weekend that will have North East golf fans glued to their TV screens.

The meticulous 25-year-old from Barnard Castle got up at 4.30am to prepare for his 7.11 tee-off time in the second round of the US Open at Torrey Pines South – and delivered the goods.

He signed for his first par round in a major and rounds of 73 and 71 gave him a two-over 144 total and, with many golfers still out on the course, a possible spot among the top 30 going into the third round today.

Last night was spent enjoying dinner with a friend in San Diego and Dinwiddie said: “I feel it is important to get away from it all and give your mind a break. It keeps you fresh for the golf.”

His day started with the early morning alarm call followed by a warm-up in the gym before a 5.30am breakfast.

At 6am he was on the practice ground going through every club in the bag and on the course quickly found momentum by starting birdie, birdie – holing a 35-foot putt at the first and knocking it stiff from 100 yards at the second.

“It helped there was no wind around when I played,” said Dinwddie, “and the greens were still pretty fresh and smooth.

“After that it was pretty up and down, although I ended up with six birdies and six bogeys and I had some pretty good par putts on the back nine before finishing with a 45-foot uphill putt for a birdie at the last.

“I do feel that getting away to recharge the batteries over dinner with a pal is important because I felt absolutely knackered at the end of the round.”

For the world’s most capped amateur, Gary Wolstenholme, the day brought another disaster. The twice British Amateur Champion, denied practice facilities because he stepped in only as a last-minute reserve, crashed out 23 shots over par for the two rounds after carding an 83 and a 82 for a 165 total.

Now playing his county golf for Cumbria after joining the Carus Green club in Kendal, 48-year-old Wolstenholme racked up two triple bogeys, three double bogeys, 14 bogeys and three birdies over the two days .

Luke Donald kept his name near the top of theleaderboard with a second par 71. At one stage the man for him to catch was Rocco Mediate, who, after six holes in his second round, was leading the tournament on four under.

Ian Poulter was forced to withdraw after playing 15 holes yesterday with an apparent wrist injury. Poulter had posted consecutive double-bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes and was seven over for the round and 14 over for the tournament.

Open champion Padraig Harrington shot 67 to make sure he made the cut.