Golf: Brown feels for friend

Michael Campbell. Photo / Greg Bowker

There was a look of complete bewilderment on the face of Mark Brown when he enquired about the Portugal Masters second-round score of fellow New Zealand golfer, Michael Campbell.

Brown had just signed for a one-under par 71 to make the halfway cut with a four-under par tally in the European Tour event on the Oceanico Victoria course at Vilamoura yesterday.

In stark contrast, Campbell crashed from a lofty share of eighth place on day one, following his bogey free round of 67, to miss the halfway cut with a second round of 77 for a level par tally.

Campbell looked assured of seven straight missed cuts when he was four-under par with just two holes to play. However the crestfallen New Zealander proceeded to double bogey the closing pair of holes to miss the cut by four shots.

"It's really disappointing, as I had dinner with Cambo last night and he seemed in a good, positive mood," Brown said.

While Campbell continues to struggle, Brown has his own agenda and that is to assure himself of retaining automatic membership for 2011. Brown arrived in Portugal lying 112th on the money list, just three places inside the top 115 who will retain full playing status.

"I'm still needing one good week that would take care of my card," Brown said.

Brown's membership category in having captured the 2008 Johnnie Walker Classic, however, ensures he will contest four of the remaining six events.

Dutchman Maarten Lafeber heads the event by two shots after holing his second for eagle at the four second hole, on route to a 67 and a 13-under par total. Finland's Mikko Illonen (68) is next best on 11-under par and just ahead of bearded Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin.

- NZPA