Que safely makes cut for Euro Masters

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que held his ground against some of the world’s top shotmakers and played a steady round in one of the late afternoon flights, carding a two-under par 69 Friday and cruising into the European Masters weekend in Crans Montana, Switzerland.

The Filipino ace came in joint 42nd with six others and stood 11 shots off halfway leader Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, needing to come up with a pair of solid rounds in the last 36 holes to at least duplicate his seventh place in the $2.8 million event last year.

Like in the first round, the 32-year-old Que leaned on a solid frontside stint to advance, hitting back-to-back birdies from No. 7 to string up nines of 34-35 at the par-71 Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

But birdies and eagles flew from all over in the second round with Jimenez producing two eagles and six birdies in a career-low round of 10-under par 61 and a stirring 14-under 128 for a three-shot lead over Edoardo Molinari and teen sensation Matteo Manassero, both from Italy, who ended the day tied in second place following rounds of 65 and 67, respectively, for 131s.

Asia’s best-placed golfer was Korea’s Noh Seung-yul, who hit a solid 66 for joint 19th place, nine shots off the pace. Noh earned praise from playing partner Greg Norman of Australia, who predicted a bright future for the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader.

The 46-year-old Jimenez is on course for a grand Omega double as he won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic earlier in the season to go along with the French Open title.

Oozing with confidence, he produced breathtaking shots to leave his rivals in his wake, which raised his hope of victory at the stunning mountain resort in his 22nd straight appearance in Crans Montana.

Jimenez said the magical 59, which has never been shot previously on the Asian Tour or European Tour, flashed before his eyes after he went 10-under for the round through 15 holes. But he agonizingly parred home his last three holes.

“After I made the eagle from 18 inches at the 14th, I thought there was a chance and I then made a birdie at the 15th. However it wasn’t to be. It’s not every day you get round in 61 shots so it’s okay,” said Jimenez.