GOLF: Forsbrand falls apart

ANDERS FORSBRAND, of Sweden, was yesterday disqualified from the Peugeot French Open in Paris after enduring a golfing nightmare in the second round.

Forsbrand, who was 14th in the Order of Merit going into the French event, was only one over par when he teed off yesterday. By the time he stood on the 18th tee he was already on 93. Twice in the water coming down the par-five last and, with a dreaded 100-plus total looming, he 'ran out of golf balls' after losing nine, made no return and was disqualified.

Forsbrand was out in 43 and a single birdie at the ninth proved to be a false dawn as he went on to score 9, 10, 6 and 8 between holes 12 and 15. It was an embarrassing effort from a player who won the Moroccan Open earlier this season and was a World Cup and Dunhill Cup winner with Sweden three years ago.

Adding insult to Forsbrand's injured pride, his playing partner, David Gilford, kept his game to card a 70 to go to seven under for the tournament, one behind the leader, Malcolm Mackenzie. Mackenzie shot a 66 to move clear of a log-jam at the top of the leaderboard.

Level with Gilford in second place were Spain's Ignacio Garrido, Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty, Sweden's Gabriel Hjertstedt and the South African John Bland.

Sandy Lyle, who shot a 70, Howard Clark and Paul Curry, winner of the Jersey Open last week, survived the cut, which was made at 145.