PETER WHITEFORD SHOOTS A 64
TO BE ONE OFF THE LEAD
IN EURO CHALLENGE TOUR
From Michael Gibbons
Challenge Tour Press Officer
Peter Whiteford’s second round of seven-under-par 64 today has propelled him into contention to become the European Challenge Tour’s most prolific winner of 2007 as the dream finish to his season continued at the Toscana Open Italian Federation Cup.
The Kirkcaldy 27-year-old (pictured above). who has won two of his past three events to all but guarantee a European Tour card for next season as part of the Challenge Tour’s top 20, is just one shot behind Robert Dinwiddie of England on 10-under 132 at Le Pavoniere Golf and Country Club in Florence.
Whiteford and Dinwiddie are two of the eight double winners from what has been a thrilling Challenge Tour season, and both men are looking to secure a hat-trick of victories over the final two rounds in Florence ahead of next week’s season-ending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
“I played great again today and the key to all of my recent success has been my putting,” said Whiteford. “That has been my Achilles heel for a long time, but I am putting so well just now, seeing the lines and hitting them.
“My long game as always been pretty solid, but the knock-on effect from the confidence of winning has improved that as well. I am very happy with how it’s going at the moment.”
Anstruther’s George Murray is five strokes behind Whiteford on five under par after a second round 68, with Eric Ramsay a further stroke back after a 67.
You needed to shoot one-under-par 141 or better to beat the halfway cut.
Andrew Oldcorn (143), Richie Ramsay (144), Andrew McArthur (145) and Jamie McLeary (146) were on the wrong side of it.