GOLF - Clarke has bad day on fairway

Dale Clarke is focused on making the cut for the final round after a nightmare six holes at the Australasian PGA tour qualifying school yesterday saw him struggling to keep sight of his dream of a professional career.
The Sherwood Park amateur was "not very pleased" after dropping seven shots between the fifth and the 10th in the second round, making it harder to win one of the 35 PGA cards on offer.
The tournament is played over four rounds at the Peninsula Country Golf Club in Frankston, Victoria. The final stage will see a cut after 54 holes, with the leading 70 players plus ties going into the final round tomorrow.
"Anything that could go wrong did go wrong, but after the shaky start I came back on the rest of the round and managed a birdie or two to finish 10-over."
The result leaves Clarke near the back of the field, but still within striking distance if he can make the cut today.
Clarke was in a share of 60th equal on four-over with 12 others after the first round, and slipped further down in the field of 98, who teed off on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old said the conditions hadn't been ideal over the opening two rounds.
"It's a tough course to play, it's tree-lined and it's been windy."
Clarke said he was still hoping to get the hang of it and at least finish between 36 and 60 and earn provisional cards and membership of the PGA of Australia.
"I'd be hugely disappointed if I couldn't make the cut, so I've got to do better in the next two rounds." he said.