Sam Torrance’s Order of Merit hopes still alive

as he lies four shots off the lead in 5th place

By STEVE TODD, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Sam Torrance’s hopes of winning the European Senior Tour Order of Merit remain alive after a one under par 71 in the second round of the OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship today.
The Ayrshire man needs to finish in at least the top four to edge past fellow former Ryder Cup- winning captain Ian Woosnam in the race for John Jacobs Trophy and he lies four shots behind leader Angel Franco in fifth place.
Woosnam carded a second consecutive round of 72 to finish the second day well down the field in a share of 30th place on level par.
That means Torrance, who is defending his title in Spain, will go into the final round with high hopes of winning the Order of Merit he captured in 2005 and 2006.
“I played the best I have done all season from tee to green but I couldn’t hole a thing,” said Torrance. “I missed five putts from inside five feet and ten from inside ten. I’ve still got a good chance tomorrow though, so we shall see what happens."
Paraguay’s Angel Franco will take a two stroke lead into the final round as he attempts to capture his maiden European Senior Tour title. Franco has finished runner up five times in his two years on the Senior Tour – including twice this season – but is in pole position to break his duck after a battling round of 70 in windy conditions at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo.
The big hitting 51 year old, whose opening round 64 was the lowest of his Senior Tour career, got off to a sluggish start, dropping two early shots after three-putting both the second and third holes before a birdie on the fourth.
He got into the red with further birdies on the eighth and ninth but dropped a shot on the 12th before finishing strongly with birdies on the 16th and 17th to move to ten under par, two strokes clear of Ireland’s Denis O’Sullivan who signed for a round of 68.
“It was a different course today as the wind made it difficult,” said Franco. “I putted badly as it was too windy and difficult but I fought to get a positive score. I had to concentrate a lot because of the wind.
“I’m feeling happy and relaxed but there’s one more day to go. I’m very excited about tomorrow. I’m trying to stop finishing second and I’m look forward to tomorrow’s round. I would love to have my first win at Victor Garcia’s golf course.”
O’Sullivan’s return to form with the putter continued as he carded six birdies in his second consecutive round of 68. The 61 year old, who is chasing his seventh Senior Tour victory and first since 2005, has changed his putting technique this week to use only his dominant eye when lining up.
“It’s obviously working for me unless it’s just in my head,” he said. “Putting is the part of the game I was good at when I first turned professional but it hasn’t been great of late so it’s nice to get it back.
“I probably won’t be able to putt as well when I’m under pressure tomorrow but if I can I’ll have a chance. It’s great to be contending again. When I first came on the Senior Tour I was in the final groups all the time but I haven’t been for a while so it feels good.”
American Mike Cunning, who began the season by winning The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum, is three shots off the pace on seven under par after carding the best round of the day – a superb 65 which included six birdies on the front nine.
Englishman Carl Mason, who is on five under par, and compatriot Glenn Ralph, who is a shot further back, are also still in contention to win the Order of Merit, which Woosnam will be hoping to retain.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
134 A Franco (Par) 64 70
136 D O'Sullivan (Ire) 68 68
137 M Cunning (USA) 72 65, M Harwood (Aus) 65 72
138 S Torrance (Sco) 67 71
139 B Longmuir (Sco) 71 68, C Mason (Eng) 68 71, G Brand (Eng) 69 70, J Bruner (USA) 67 72, J Quiros (Esp) 71 68
140 M Clayton (Aus) 70 70, G Ralph (Eng) 70 70, D Hospital (Esp) 71 69, J Rivero (Esp) 69 71, R Drummond (Sco) 66 74
141 J Chillas (Sco) 69 72, N Job (Eng) 70 71, B Cameron (Eng) 71 70
142 G Brand junior (Sco) 68 74, D Merriman (Aus) 73 69, R Chapman (Eng) 71 71, K Tomori (Jpn) 72 70, K Spurgeon (Eng) 73 69, C Rocca (Ita) 69 73, M Piñero (Esp) 70 72, C Williams (RSA) 72 70
143 D Smyth (Irl) 66 77, E Rodriguez (Esp) 72 71, G Cali (Ita) 74 69
144 L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 75, J Heggarty (NIr) 69 75, E Darcy (Irl) 72 72, P Mitchell (Eng) 69 75, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 72,
145 A Murray (Eng) 72 73, T Johnstone (Zim) 71 74,
146 D Cambridge (Jam) 76 70,
147 V Garcia (Esp) 76 71, J Bland (RSA) 69 78,
150 B Lincoln (RSA) 76 74, B Smit (RSA) 75 75,
157 G Hopkins (USA) 80 77,