Mason's late slips gives the others a chance to catch Carl

England’s Carl Mason has a great chance to equal his compatriot Tommy Horton’s record of 23 wins on the European Senior Tour after maintaining his lead with a second round 67 at the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open today.
Mason has 22 titles to his name in a glittering Senior Tour career and knows what it takes to win at Golf Club Bad Ragaz in the Swiss Alps, having triumphed there in 2007 and 2008.
The 57 year old recently passed the €2million mark in Senior Tour career earnings and has a fabulous opportunity to complete a hat-trick of victories after posting birdies at the fourth, fifth, 13th, 15th and 16th. His lead could have been greater were it not for back-to-back bogeys at the 17th and 18th.
He leads fellow Englishman George Ryall, who shone with a seven under par 63, by one shot, while five players – including Boonchu Ruangkit who has won three times this season – are another shot back on seven under.
Mason insists he will not be thinking about Horton’s record in the final round. He said: “It’s not on my mind, no. Records and numbers come with the game whatever you do. I’m just going to try and win the tournament – that’s all I’m focusing on.
“It was a little disappointing to finish with two dropped shots today. I hit two awful tee shots and couldn’t make par. But the rest of the round was good. I had some good approach shots that went close, and when that happened I mostly holed the putts.
“So overall it was a good day and I’m looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow.”
Ryall’s 63 included four consecutive birdies from the 14th and he said: “I knocked a few putts in which was nice. I hit 18 greens yesterday but took 35 putts. Today I hit 17 greens but holed out much better.
“I needed to really because if you make pars on this course you sort of feel like you’re going backwards. There are lots of chances out there. I haven’t been scoring as well as I’d have liked recently but my game has felt in good shape.
“Being in this position is all a bit new to me but tomorrow will be a good experience and I’m looking forward to it. I’ll try and enjoy it, keep playing well and see how I deal with it.”
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70)
131 C Mason (Eng) 64 67,
132 G Ryall (Eng) 69 63,
133 J Harrison (Eng) 66 67, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 67 66, B Ruangkit (Tha) 65 68, J Rhodes (Eng) 67 66, J Bruner (USA) 67 66,
134 J Quiros (Esp) 67 67, D Merriman (Aus) 66 68, C Rocca (Ita) 68 66, A Franco (Par) 67 67,
135 M Harwood (Aus) 69 66, B Smit (RSA) 68 67, D Russell (Eng) 65 70, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 67 68, B Boyd (USA) 66 69, E Rodriguez (Esp) 69 66,
136 A Sowa (Arg) 66 70, M Cunning (USA) 68 68, J Heggarty (Nir) 71 65,
137 S Van Vuuren (RSA) 66 71, T Burgoyne (Sco) 69 68, J Gould (Eng) 69 68, B Longmuir (Sco) 72 65, C Grenier (Aut) 68 69, M Belsham (Eng) 66 71, N Job (Eng) 70 67,
138 I Mosey (Eng) 69 69, R Chapman (Eng) 69 69, D Johnson (USA) 72 66, H Carbonetti (Arg) 68 70, C Williams (RSA) 74 64, S Owen (Nzl) 66 72, J Chillas (Sco) 70 68,
139 L Carbonetti (Arg) 70 69, P Fowler (Aus) 67 72, T Giedeon (Ger) 68 71, K Spurgeon (Eng) 68 71, A Fernandez (Chi) 70 69, M Clayton (Aus) 69 70, J Bland (RSA) 69 70, G Ralph (Eng) 68 71, M Williams (Zim) 71 68, D Cambridge (Jam) 71 68, K Tomori (Jpn) 68 71,
140 S Cipa (Eng) 70 70, M Farry (Fra) 68 72, M Miller (Sco) 69 71, M Bembridge (Eng) 71 69, G Banister (Aus) 67 73,
141 S Bennett (Eng) 72 69, P Oakley (USA) 70 71, M Piñero (Esp) 71 70, G Cali (Ita) 69 72, B Cameron (Eng) 71 70,
142 A Johnsson (Swe) 72 70, G Brand (Eng) 73 69, T Charnley (Eng) 71 71,
143 F Mann (Sco) 74 69, M Poxon (Eng) 71 72, A Garrido (Esp) 71 72, G Towne (USA) 73 70, D Creamer (Eng) 74 69, B Charles (Nzl) 70 73,
144 J Hawkes (RSA) 75 69, V Garcia (Esp) 73 71, D Durnian (Eng) 76 68, T Allen (Eng) 74 70, J Hall (Eng) 72 72,
145 B Lincoln (RSA) 68 77, D Hospital (Esp) 73 72, H Schumacher (Sui) 73 72,
146 L Higgins (Irl) 72 74, M Gray (Sco) 72 74,
149 E Polland (Nir) 74 75,
151 T Gale (Aus) 78 73,
152 A Croce (Ita) 74 78,
157 V Krajewski (Sui) 81 76