Li keeps the heat on leading rookie Couvra in Turkey
The 22-year-old rookie started the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard but pulled clear of the chasing pack courtesy of a five-under 66 at Regnum Carya on Friday.
Couvra has impressed during his maiden campaign at this level, having already posted four top-10 finishes, including fifth at the Hainan Classic last time out.
"I'm really happy about my game today - it's always good to have a bogey-free round," said world No.247 Couvra.
At 11-under par, Couvra leads by two from South Africa's Wilco Nienaber (65), with Li Haotong (65) a shot further back in third.
The 29-year-old from Shanghai, China remains in contention to win his fifth European tour event after claiming the Qatar Masters in Doha in February.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (72) missed the cut on three over par, with Todd Clements (68) leading the British challenge on seven under in a tie for fourth.
The two Australians in the field both missed the weekend cut, with Daniel Gale (75) at even and Danny List (78) five-over the card.
With AAP.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Thrillseekers take to the skies to set world record
Ben Toohey always wanted to go skydiving so when his 21st birthday rolled around, his family finally gave him the push he needed. Alongside his mum, dad, sister and girlfriend, he teamed up to skydive as part of his birthday celebration in Wollongong, NSW. But the "cherry on the cake" was finding out he was one of thousands taking to the air on Saturday to attempt a global record on World Skydiving Day. "We just rocked up, and we're just being told about it ... and I just thought that was great," he told AAP. "Everything was a cherry on the cake today, it was just ridiculous (I have) no words." More than 30,300 skydives in a single day were recorded around the globe in 2024, with Australia ranked second behind the US with 2700 jumps across 33 drop zones in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. However, it is hoped skydivers around the world will beat that record on Saturday. Mr Toohey, like many other first-time skydivers, was nervous as he was putting on the safety gear and preparing for the big leap. When he finally jumped out of the plane, the first of his family to take the plunge as the sun was rising over Wollongong beach, he said the feeling was "unreal". "It was way different from what I thought and I'm glad I kept my eyes open, I was thinking about maybe closing them," he said. By setting a new world record, advocates hope to raise awareness of a push to include skydiving as a sport in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. "To take that even further and showcase the professionalism of the sport and the dedication and athleticism of those who compete, we want to see skydiving included in the Olympics program," Australian Parachute Federation chief executive Stephen Porter said. World Championships are already held in the sport, with skydivers competing across several categories, including formation, freestyle, speed skydiving, wingsuit flying, and canopy piloting. The world's fastest female skydiver also wants to see the sport recognised in the Olympics. "To represent Australia on the world stage for a sport I love is an incredible honour and now it's time to take the next step and see skydiving officially added as an Olympic sport for the 2032 Games," Queensland local Natisha Dingle said. Ben Toohey always wanted to go skydiving so when his 21st birthday rolled around, his family finally gave him the push he needed. Alongside his mum, dad, sister and girlfriend, he teamed up to skydive as part of his birthday celebration in Wollongong, NSW. But the "cherry on the cake" was finding out he was one of thousands taking to the air on Saturday to attempt a global record on World Skydiving Day. "We just rocked up, and we're just being told about it ... and I just thought that was great," he told AAP. "Everything was a cherry on the cake today, it was just ridiculous (I have) no words." More than 30,300 skydives in a single day were recorded around the globe in 2024, with Australia ranked second behind the US with 2700 jumps across 33 drop zones in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. However, it is hoped skydivers around the world will beat that record on Saturday. Mr Toohey, like many other first-time skydivers, was nervous as he was putting on the safety gear and preparing for the big leap. When he finally jumped out of the plane, the first of his family to take the plunge as the sun was rising over Wollongong beach, he said the feeling was "unreal". "It was way different from what I thought and I'm glad I kept my eyes open, I was thinking about maybe closing them," he said. By setting a new world record, advocates hope to raise awareness of a push to include skydiving as a sport in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. "To take that even further and showcase the professionalism of the sport and the dedication and athleticism of those who compete, we want to see skydiving included in the Olympics program," Australian Parachute Federation chief executive Stephen Porter said. World Championships are already held in the sport, with skydivers competing across several categories, including formation, freestyle, speed skydiving, wingsuit flying, and canopy piloting. The world's fastest female skydiver also wants to see the sport recognised in the Olympics. "To represent Australia on the world stage for a sport I love is an incredible honour and now it's time to take the next step and see skydiving officially added as an Olympic sport for the 2032 Games," Queensland local Natisha Dingle said. Ben Toohey always wanted to go skydiving so when his 21st birthday rolled around, his family finally gave him the push he needed. Alongside his mum, dad, sister and girlfriend, he teamed up to skydive as part of his birthday celebration in Wollongong, NSW. But the "cherry on the cake" was finding out he was one of thousands taking to the air on Saturday to attempt a global record on World Skydiving Day. "We just rocked up, and we're just being told about it ... and I just thought that was great," he told AAP. "Everything was a cherry on the cake today, it was just ridiculous (I have) no words." More than 30,300 skydives in a single day were recorded around the globe in 2024, with Australia ranked second behind the US with 2700 jumps across 33 drop zones in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. However, it is hoped skydivers around the world will beat that record on Saturday. Mr Toohey, like many other first-time skydivers, was nervous as he was putting on the safety gear and preparing for the big leap. When he finally jumped out of the plane, the first of his family to take the plunge as the sun was rising over Wollongong beach, he said the feeling was "unreal". "It was way different from what I thought and I'm glad I kept my eyes open, I was thinking about maybe closing them," he said. By setting a new world record, advocates hope to raise awareness of a push to include skydiving as a sport in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. "To take that even further and showcase the professionalism of the sport and the dedication and athleticism of those who compete, we want to see skydiving included in the Olympics program," Australian Parachute Federation chief executive Stephen Porter said. World Championships are already held in the sport, with skydivers competing across several categories, including formation, freestyle, speed skydiving, wingsuit flying, and canopy piloting. The world's fastest female skydiver also wants to see the sport recognised in the Olympics. "To represent Australia on the world stage for a sport I love is an incredible honour and now it's time to take the next step and see skydiving officially added as an Olympic sport for the 2032 Games," Queensland local Natisha Dingle said. Ben Toohey always wanted to go skydiving so when his 21st birthday rolled around, his family finally gave him the push he needed. Alongside his mum, dad, sister and girlfriend, he teamed up to skydive as part of his birthday celebration in Wollongong, NSW. But the "cherry on the cake" was finding out he was one of thousands taking to the air on Saturday to attempt a global record on World Skydiving Day. "We just rocked up, and we're just being told about it ... and I just thought that was great," he told AAP. "Everything was a cherry on the cake today, it was just ridiculous (I have) no words." More than 30,300 skydives in a single day were recorded around the globe in 2024, with Australia ranked second behind the US with 2700 jumps across 33 drop zones in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. However, it is hoped skydivers around the world will beat that record on Saturday. Mr Toohey, like many other first-time skydivers, was nervous as he was putting on the safety gear and preparing for the big leap. When he finally jumped out of the plane, the first of his family to take the plunge as the sun was rising over Wollongong beach, he said the feeling was "unreal". "It was way different from what I thought and I'm glad I kept my eyes open, I was thinking about maybe closing them," he said. By setting a new world record, advocates hope to raise awareness of a push to include skydiving as a sport in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. "To take that even further and showcase the professionalism of the sport and the dedication and athleticism of those who compete, we want to see skydiving included in the Olympics program," Australian Parachute Federation chief executive Stephen Porter said. World Championships are already held in the sport, with skydivers competing across several categories, including formation, freestyle, speed skydiving, wingsuit flying, and canopy piloting. The world's fastest female skydiver also wants to see the sport recognised in the Olympics. "To represent Australia on the world stage for a sport I love is an incredible honour and now it's time to take the next step and see skydiving officially added as an Olympic sport for the 2032 Games," Queensland local Natisha Dingle said.
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Gout Gout lights up Diamond League with under-23 200m victory
The remarkable Gout Gout story speeds on with the Australian wonder teen producing another blistering performance to further his European track education in Monaco. Guesting in a under-23 invitation 200 metres at the prestigious Diamond League meeting at the Stade Louis II in the Principality during his school holidays on Friday, the teenage Australian phenomenon raced away to another striking win in 20.10 seconds into a headwind. The 17-year-old Queenslander, who had enjoyed a remarkable European debut when he clocked an Australian record 20.02 sec in the Czech town of Ostrava just over two weeks ago, may have challenged the 20sec barrier again if not disadvantaged by the 1.9m/sec wind in his face. But he was delighted to maintain his European unbeaten record as he sped away off the bend to leave South African Naeem Jack (20.42) and Botswana's Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (20.28sec) trailing in his wake. 'My top-end speed is my secret, so I've just got to focus on the first 100, first 50, and once I get out of that bend, I know I can run people down,' Gout beamed afterwards. 'So stay relaxed, stay focused, and just power through.' The youngster will now head back to school in Queensland after his enjoyable first experience of top European meetings in good spirits, with his first trip to a senior world championships in Japan in September very much still on track. 'I am pretty satisfied, I just got told that it was into a headwind. I ran pretty decent so I am happy with that,' he shrugged. 'I haven't competed much this season since I have to go to school, I will be back on Monday. During the holidays is the time to compete for me.' After the victory, Australian Athletics joked on social media: 'Just like your average teenager, Gout Gout used his school holidays to make his Diamond League debut.' This was Gout's first taste of the atmosphere at a big Diamond League meeting, one of the most high-profile on the circuit, but he had no intention of making his debut in the League 200m race, which was won by Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles in a sizzling 19.88, also into a slightly less strong 0.8m/sec headwind. 'I didn't compete in the main race because I just want slowly to get used to it, there is no point putting me in big races when I am running at the World Championships. The goal now is to go out there and have a little bit of fun,' explained the youngster. Gout's run was just one of another series of impressive outings by Australian athletes as Jess Hull and Peter Bol both shattered national records. Twelve months to the day since breaking the 2000m world record at the same meeting, Olympic metric mile silver medallist Hull finished third in the 1000m behind Kenyan Nelly Chepchirchir (2min 29.77sec) in 2:30.96, beating the previous national mark by two seconds. In one of the fastest 800m races in Diamond League history, Bol was fourth in 1:42.55, improving his own Australian record by more than a second, as Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi clocked a world-leading time of 1:41.44 and the top five, remarkably, all went under 1:43. 'I'm resilient, I've always been. I've overcome a lot over the last few years, they were pretty bad for me, but I'm back and I'm better. An Australian record? I can't be any happier.' Pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall cleared 5.92m to claim third place as world record holder Mondo Duplantis set a meet record of 6.05m.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Thrillseekers take to the skies to set world record
Ben Toohey always wanted to go skydiving so when his 21st birthday rolled around, his family finally gave him the push he needed. Alongside his mum, dad, sister and girlfriend, he teamed up to skydive as part of his birthday celebration in Wollongong, NSW. But the "cherry on the cake" was finding out he was one of thousands taking to the air on Saturday to attempt a global record on World Skydiving Day. "We just rocked up, and we're just being told about it ... and I just thought that was great," he told AAP. "Everything was a cherry on the cake today, it was just ridiculous (I have) no words." More than 30,300 skydives in a single day were recorded around the globe in 2024, with Australia ranked second behind the US with 2700 jumps across 33 drop zones in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. However, it is hoped skydivers around the world will beat that record on Saturday. Mr Toohey, like many other first-time skydivers, was nervous as he was putting on the safety gear and preparing for the big leap. When he finally jumped out of the plane, the first of his family to take the plunge as the sun was rising over Wollongong beach, he said the feeling was "unreal". "It was way different from what I thought and I'm glad I kept my eyes open, I was thinking about maybe closing them," he said. By setting a new world record, advocates hope to raise awareness of a push to include skydiving as a sport in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. "To take that even further and showcase the professionalism of the sport and the dedication and athleticism of those who compete, we want to see skydiving included in the Olympics program," Australian Parachute Federation chief executive Stephen Porter said. World Championships are already held in the sport, with skydivers competing across several categories, including formation, freestyle, speed skydiving, wingsuit flying, and canopy piloting. The world's fastest female skydiver also wants to see the sport recognised in the Olympics. "To represent Australia on the world stage for a sport I love is an incredible honour and now it's time to take the next step and see skydiving officially added as an Olympic sport for the 2032 Games," Queensland local Natisha Dingle said.
