Pettersson, Fernandez-Castano to face giant-killers

MARANA, Arizona (AFP) –

Sweden’s Carl Pettersson and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, pictured in action on January 19, 2013, advanced to second-round matchups with giant-killers after triumphing at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship on Friday.

Sweden’s Carl Pettersson and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano advanced to second-round matchups with giant-killers after triumphing at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship on Friday.

Pettersson edged American Rickie Fowler in 19 holes, while Fernandez-Castano defeated Italy’s Francesco Molinari 2-up in matches at Dove Mountain that were unfinished when darkness halted play Thursday in the snow-disrupted event.

Fernandez-Castano will face American Charles Howell, who upset 14-time major champion Tiger Woods 2 and 1, while Pettersson faces Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who edged World No. 1 Rory McIlroy 1-up, in second-round matches later on Friday.

Pettersson was 1-up through 17 holes when play was halted, but Fowler birdied the par-4 18th to extend the match.

Pettersson then advanced with a par 4 on the first extra hole.

Fernandez-Castano and Molinari were all square through 15 holes when play resumed Friday morning.

The Italian took a bogey at the par-3 16th and, after both parred the par-4 17th, Molinari was eliminated with another bogey at 18.