Play it again, Sam! Torrance

leads by two in Spain

From Steve Todd, European Senior Tour Press Officer
Sam Torrance fired his best round of the year – a flawless 66 – to take a two-stroke lead going into Sunday's final round of the OKI Castellón Open España – Senior Tour Championship.
Torrance, who has yet to drop a shot to par in the tournament, made a flying start to his second round at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo, reaching the turn in five-under-par 31 before adding two more birdies on the back nine.
The 2002 Ryder Cup-winning captain moved to 10 under par 134 for the tournament, ahead of England’s Bob Cameron, Chilean Angel Fernandez and Spaniard José Rivero, who are all on eight under par 136.
Torrance is looking for his first victory of 2008, and his first since the Bendinat London Senior Masters in July 2007, following a season that has been hampered by a niggling wrist injury.
Despite also suffering from a chest infection, the two-time European Senior Tour Order of Merit winner is ideally placed to add to his nine previous Senior Tour victories.
After hitting 35 greens in regulation out of 36 so far in the Senior Tour’s season finale, the 55- year-old from Ayrshire admitted he was relishing leading going into the final round once again.
“I was playing well within myself today – nice and easy,” said Torrance. "Beware of the injured golfer they say – I’ve been up all night with a chest infection.
“I’ve not spoken much about my hand but it’s improved so much in the last couple of months – I’m even shaking hands with people again– and it has made a real difference.
“I don’t mind being in the lead – it’s a position I strive for, so I’m looking forward to it tomorrow. I had more birdie chances on the last six holes but couldn’t take them but it’s nice to lead again.”
Home favourite Rivero, another former Ryder Cup player, matched Torrance’s six under par 66 to also move into contention.
Rivero, who is 22nd in the Order of Merit, has had a solid season so far with six top ten finishes but has yet to break into the top five in 2008.
He said: “I played fantastic on the front nine but then not so well on the back nine. The course is in fantastic condition and I’m playing well so I have a chance tomorrow.”
Overnight joint leader and defending champion Costantino Rocca dropped down the pack with a four over par 76 following double bogey seven on the par five fourth hole to lie eight shots off the lead on two under par.
Order of Merit leader Ian Woosnam is a shot further back after opening with a double bogey en route to a one under par 71.
Meanwhile Victor Garcia, Club de Campo del Mediterráneo’s professional whose son Sergio won at the venue on The European Tour last month, retired before the start of the second round due to illness
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
134 S Torrance (Sco) 68 66.
136 J Rivero (Esp) 70 66, A Fernandez (Chi) 66 70, B Cameron (Eng) 69 67.
137 H Carbonetti (Arg) 67 70, K Tomori (Jpn) 69 68.
138 E Rodriguez (Esp) 68 70, J Bruner (USA) 68 70.
139 R Drummond (Sco) 68 71, L Carbonetti (Arg) 71 68.
140 B Longmuir (Sco) 70 70.
141 A Murray (Eng) 69 72, D Smyth (Ire) 70 71.
142 C Rocca (Ita) 66 76; N Job (Eng) 70 72; S Ginn (Aus) 75 67; J Quiros (Esp) 71 71.
143 D O'Sullivan (Irl) 74 69, C Mason (Eng) 70 73, J Rhodes (Eng) 71 72, D Hospital (Esp) 69 74, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 71, T Johnstone (Zim) 72 71.
144 G Cali (Ita) 72 72, A Franco (Par) 74 70, G Watine (Fra) 71 73.
145 J Hall (Eng) 73 72, J Bland (RSA) 72 73, J Chillas (Sco) 73 72.
146 P Mitchell (Eng) 72 74, P Oakley (USA) 73 73, E Darcy (Irl) 72 74; S Owen (Nzl) 72 74, B Boyd (USA) 71 75, D Merriman (Aus) 71 75, M Gray (Sco) 72 74.
147 D Cambridge (Jam) 75 72.
148 G Brand (Eng) 74 74.
149 G Encina (Chi) 75 74, B Lincoln (RSA) 77 72.
152 D Russell (Eng) 75 77;
Withdrew (ill): V Garcia (Esp) 78 -.