Scott Piercy reacts to his tee shot during the second round of play at the Match Play Championship Golf Tournament in Marana Friday. — AP MARANA, Arizona — Former champion Luke Donald was the biggest name to fall in the second round of the snow-delayed WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship after being pummelled 7&6 by American Scott Piercy Friday. Making his first appearance in the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event, Piercy will next meet 2001 champion Steve Stricker who edged past fellow American Nick Watney after 21 holes. The stunning departure of Donald follows the premature exits on Thursday of world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and three-time champion Tiger Woods. World No. 68 Lowry continued his winning form Friday, making five birdies in a flawless display on the way to a commanding 6&5 victory over Swede Carl Pettersson. Howell ran out of steam as he was crushed 6&5 by Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. Long-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts became the first player to reach the third round with a 4&2 upset win over British world number six Justin Rose on Friday. Nicknamed the ‘Belgian Bomber' because of his power hitting, Colsaerts will next face American Matt Kuchar, who beat Spaniard Sergio Garcia 2&1 in a closely contested match between two Ryder Cup players. Ian Poulter, the 2010 champion, also advanced with a 3&1 victory over American Bo Van Pelt to set up a third-round encounter with South African Tim Clark, who beat Dane Thorbjorn Olesen 3&2. Defending champion Hunter Mahan never trailed on the way to a commanding 4&3 win against South African Richard Sterne and he will take on Germany's Martin Kaymer in the next round. Kaymer, who lost 3&2 to Donald in the 2011 Match Play Championship final, advanced by beating Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello 2&1. In other second-round matches, Masters champion Bubba Watson battled past fellow American Jim Furyk after 22 holes and US Open winner Webb Simpson beat Swede Peter Hanson 1up after never leading until the 18th. Jutanugarn ahead Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn shot a 2-under 70 Saturday to lead by three strokes after the third round of the LPGA Thailand in Chonburi despite finishing with two bogeys. Last year's top-ranked amateur, Ariya holed seven birdies — including five straight from No. 10 onward — for an 11-under 205 total at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course. Next were Stacy Lewis (76), Se Ri Pak (71) and Beatriz Recari (72), one stroke ahead of Inbee Park (71). Lewis, the third-ranked American, finished with three bogeys to lose her three-stroke lead after the second round. — Agencies
