San Domenico Grand Final dramatic finish on cards
McARTHUR, DRYSDALE HANGING ON IN THERE
AS CHALLENGE TOUR PRESSURE MOUNTS
From Michael Gibbons, Challenge Tour Press Officer
Email: mgibbons@europeantour.com
A second consecutive 69 at the Challenge Tour’s Apulia San Domenico Grand Final has left Andrew McArthur in a great position to secure a place on the European Tour, while fellow-Scot David Drysdale is by no means out of the running for promotion after a second round of 70.
McArthur’s four-under-par aggregate of 138 left him trailing the leaders, James Hepworth (England) and Sweden's Alexander Noren by four shots as the former Scottish amateur champion improved for a share of 11th place to ninth equal.
Drysdale is now on two-under-par 140 with 36 holes to play and in joint 18th position..
Both men agree that they will have to put together a low scoring third round to move climb the leaderboard on Friday and get into position for what promises to be a dramatic final round.
The Challenge Tour’s leading 45 players are contesting the 20 available European Tour cards on offer through the leading final rankings.
“This seems a course that you can get a run going,” said Glasgow-born McArthur, who needs to finish among the top five at San Domenico Golf on Saturday evening to jump from his current position of 26th into the all important top 20.
“Hopefully I can do that over the next two days. I have been plodding along nicely and am playing well but I need to push on from here and finish the job off.”
Despite suffering from a cold, Drysdale, who needs a top two finish to move from 41st into the top 20, feels that he can put together a low enough score over the closing two days to safeguard a place on the European Tour next year.
The 31 year old from Dunbar can draw upon his Challenge Tour Grand Final success of 2004 when he won the last event of the year in Bordeaux to move from 44th to 13th spot on the final rankings.
“I need to go low over the next two days,” he agreed, “but that is possible around this golf course. The greens here are pure so if I can just get the ball a bit closer than I have been doing and roll the putts in then I’ll have every chance. There’s no reason why I can’t do it – I have been here before so I’m aware of what needs to be done.”
West Linton-based Welshman Gareth Wright looks out of it on six-over 148.
LEADERBOARD
Par 71
134 James Hepworth (Eng) 69 65, Alexander Noren (Swe) 69 65.
135 James Heath (Eng) 69 66, Mark Pilkington (Wal) 67 68.
Other scores:
138 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 69 69 (jt 9th).
140 David Drysdale (Sco) 70 70 (jt 18th).
148 Gareth Wright (Wal) 73 75 (jt 42nd).
AS CHALLENGE TOUR PRESSURE MOUNTS
From Michael Gibbons, Challenge Tour Press Officer
Email: mgibbons@europeantour.com
A second consecutive 69 at the Challenge Tour’s Apulia San Domenico Grand Final has left Andrew McArthur in a great position to secure a place on the European Tour, while fellow-Scot David Drysdale is by no means out of the running for promotion after a second round of 70.
McArthur’s four-under-par aggregate of 138 left him trailing the leaders, James Hepworth (England) and Sweden's Alexander Noren by four shots as the former Scottish amateur champion improved for a share of 11th place to ninth equal.
Drysdale is now on two-under-par 140 with 36 holes to play and in joint 18th position..
Both men agree that they will have to put together a low scoring third round to move climb the leaderboard on Friday and get into position for what promises to be a dramatic final round.
The Challenge Tour’s leading 45 players are contesting the 20 available European Tour cards on offer through the leading final rankings.
“This seems a course that you can get a run going,” said Glasgow-born McArthur, who needs to finish among the top five at San Domenico Golf on Saturday evening to jump from his current position of 26th into the all important top 20.
“Hopefully I can do that over the next two days. I have been plodding along nicely and am playing well but I need to push on from here and finish the job off.”
Despite suffering from a cold, Drysdale, who needs a top two finish to move from 41st into the top 20, feels that he can put together a low enough score over the closing two days to safeguard a place on the European Tour next year.
The 31 year old from Dunbar can draw upon his Challenge Tour Grand Final success of 2004 when he won the last event of the year in Bordeaux to move from 44th to 13th spot on the final rankings.
“I need to go low over the next two days,” he agreed, “but that is possible around this golf course. The greens here are pure so if I can just get the ball a bit closer than I have been doing and roll the putts in then I’ll have every chance. There’s no reason why I can’t do it – I have been here before so I’m aware of what needs to be done.”
West Linton-based Welshman Gareth Wright looks out of it on six-over 148.
LEADERBOARD
Par 71
134 James Hepworth (Eng) 69 65, Alexander Noren (Swe) 69 65.
135 James Heath (Eng) 69 66, Mark Pilkington (Wal) 67 68.
Other scores:
138 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 69 69 (jt 9th).
140 David Drysdale (Sco) 70 70 (jt 18th).
148 Gareth Wright (Wal) 73 75 (jt 42nd).
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, October 19, 2006
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