JOHN CHILLAS SHARING SECOND

PLACE IN SCANDINAVIAN

SENIOR OPEN

By SCOTT CROCKETT
Chief Press Officer, European Tour

French football pride might have suffered a dent recently after their 1-0 defeat by Scotland, but their golfing aspirations were in rude health in Denmark as Philippe Dugeny grabbed the lead going into the final round of the Scandinavian Senior Open.
The 55 year old, who has still to taste success on the European Seniors Tour, carded a fine second 66 at the Royal Copenhagen Golf Club for a six under par total of 136 and a one shot lead over Aberdonian John Chillas, pictured right, South Africa’s Bobby Lincoln and England's Carl Mason, the tournament favourite and current No. 1 on the Order of Merit.
Dugeny, who finished in a tie for second place behind Mason two weeks ago in the PGA Seniors Championship at the Stoke By Nayland Golf Club in Suffolk, continued to tap into a rich vein of form in Denmark in a second round thankfully not troubled by the rain showers which blighted the first day’s play.
To the turn in three under par 32, the Frenchman dropped a shot at the second hole, his 11th of the day, when he drove into the thick rough, but recovered well with birdies at the fourth, fifth and eighth holes to be home in 34.
“Two things have been the key for me this week,” said Dugeny. “I have driven the ball well, which you have to do here to keep out of the rough, and I have putted well too. I had 31 putts on the first day but only 29 today – that is very good.
“I played well a couple of weeks ago and I have carried that on here. It is all about gaining confidence in yourself and in your game. When I joined the (Seniors) Tour I was nervous but I have got over that now and I am looking forward to the chance of going out and trying to win for the first time.”
Joint second placed Chillas, who added a 67 to his opening 70 for a five under par total of 137, could have led on his own had the curse of the Copenhagen course’s 500 yard fourth hole not plagued the two time European Seniors Tour winner over the first two days.
The 56 year old Scot suffered a triple bogey 8 on the hole during Thursday’s first round after losing a ball in the deep rough and had hoped to make amends in Friday’s second round but, after finding the green in three, proceeded to three putt for a bogey 6!
“Some players play a course and immediately don’t like this hole or that because it doesn’t suit their eye but I’ve never been like that,” said Chillas. “I don’t know what’s happened with the fourth here but it’s obviously decided it doesn’t like me! But, you can’t change history and I’ll just try and go out and do better there tomorrow.”
Alongside Chillas, first round leader Mason, who is aiming for his fifth victory of the season, had a quiet second round, the only departures from par in his 69 being birdies at the eighth, 11th and 15th and a bogey 5 at the seventh, while Lincoln also only dropped one shot and had six birdies in his second round 66.
The tournament was played in a pro-am format over the first two days, with the professionals being partnered by three amateurs each, but the professionals will go it alone for Saturday’s third and final round.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
136 P Dugeny (Fra) 70 66.
137 J Chillas (Sco) 70 67, B Lincoln (RSA) 71 66, C Mason (Eng) 68 69.
138 D Johnson (US) 69 69.
139 J Quiros (Esp) 70 69.
140 L Carbonetti (Arg) 70 70, R Drummond (Sco) 72 68, G Ralph (Eng) 72 68, B Smit (RSA) 69 71.
141 S Owen (Nzl) 73 68, D J Russell (Eng) 71 70, J Van Wagenen (US) 71 70.
142 E Darcy (Ire) 72 70, D Good (Aus) 71 71, J Heggarty (Nir) 72 70, N Job (Eng) 73 69, M Miller (Sco) 73 69, M Poxon (Eng) 73 69, T Rastall (Eng) 69 73.
143 G Cali (Ita) 70 73, B Longmuir (Sco) 76 67, S Martin (Sco) 70 73, P Oakley (US) 77 66,
144 J Bruner (US) 74 70, M Gray (Sco) 75 69, J Rivero (Esp) 72 72, A Sowa (Arg) 77 67.
145 G J Brand (Eng) 74 71, I Mosey (Eng) 70 75, M Pinero (Esp) 74 71, J Rhodes (Eng) 74 71,
146 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 75 71.
147 B Malley (US) 73 74, E Rodriguez (Esp) 71 76, K Spurgeon (Eng) 75 72, G Watine (Fra) 74 73.
148 T Allen (Eng) 76 72, B Cameron (Eng) 74 74, A Johnsson (Swe) 77 71.
149 D Cambridge (Jam) 78 71, A Garrido (Esp) 79 70, B Lendzion 78 71, D Merriman (Aus) 76 73.
150 J Lapsley (NZ) 74 76.
151 T Charnley (Eng) 73 79.
155 B Hardwick (USA) 75 80.
156 V Garcia (Esp) 77 79.