SCOTT JAMIESON DROPS DOWN TO JOINT THIRD PLACE IN SPAIN
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
A seven-week break appears to have done South African Thomas Aiken no harm at all and he takes a one-shot lead into the third round of the Open de España in Barcelona.
The 27-year-old, who did not even touch a club during a month in the Bahamas, had his second successive 68 at El Prat to take over at the top from Glasgow's Scott Jamieson whose par 72 dropped him into a share of third place with three others.
"When I started (practising) again I thought 'what the hell have you done?' because everything felt so strange," said Aiken.
"I wasn't expecting much this week. I was using it to prepare for the rest of the season."
As in the first round Aiken - six times a winner in his home country, but yet to lift a European Tour title - made up for two bogeys with six birdies to stand eight under par.
Tour rookie Jamieson dropped to joint third by following his opening 66 with a 72, a much better score than looked likely when he bogeyed three of the first six holes.
In between them is Pablo Larrazábal, playing on his home course and seeking a victory that he will surely dedicate to Seve Ballesteros, given the latest fears for the life of Spain's greatest-ever golfer.
Jose Maria Olazábal and Miguel Angel Jimenez, who know the five-time Major champion much better of course, were reportedly in tears when they hear the news and unable to speak after reaching halfway on level par and one under respectively.
Alongside 27-year-old Challenge Tour graduate Jamieson are England's Anthony Wall, Frenchman Romain Wattel and another of the home contingent, last season's Challenge Tour No 1 Alvaro Velasco. His 66 was the low round of the day.
Colin Montgomerie, without a top 10 finish for almost three years, had real hopes of climbing into contention at three under early in his round, but then came three bogeys and 11 pars in a row for a 74 that dropped him alongside Olazábal just outside the top 40.
Compatriot Jamieson commented: "I was happy to claw it back. More wind made it a bit tricky, but if you hit it well there are plenty of opportunities for birdies.
"I struggled with my pace on the greens all day."
England's Steve Webster, joint second overnight, crashed out of the event with a 79 that contained two triple bogey 6s, while defending champion Alvaro Quiros missed out by one as well on two over when he three-putted the last from ten feet.
SCOTSWATCH. Paul Lawrie took over as second to Scott Jamieson in the Scots' hit parade with a 71 for 143 to be lying joint 27th going into the final two rounds. But he looked to be drifting near the danger zone when he had slipped to two over par with about six holes to play.
Lawrie, a winner in Spain just a few weeks ago, then showed his class with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 18th.
The Saltman brothers could have done with Paul Lawrie's round - both of them astonishingly missed the cut from positions of comparative "safety" overnight. Lloyd crashed from 70 to 79 for 149, while Elliot, making his comeback after a three-month disciplinary ban, sagged from 72 to 80 for 152.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
136 Thomas Aiken (S Africa) 68 68.
137 Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) 67 70.
138 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 66 72, Romain Wattel (France) 67 71, Alvaro Velasco (Spain) 72 66, Anthony Wall (England) 68 70.
139 Gregory Bourdy (France) 68 71, Alex Noren (Sweden) 72 67.
140 Peter Lawrie (Ireland) 68 72.
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
143 Paul Lawrie 72 71 (T27).
144 Colin Montgomerie 70 74, Richie Ramsay 72 72 (T44).
145 Peter Whiteford 73 72, George Murray 72 73 (T56).
MISSED THE CUT (145 or better qualified)
149 Stephen Gallacher 74 75, Lloyd Saltman 70 79.
152 Elliot Saltman 72 80.
153 Steven O'Hara 75 78.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
A seven-week break appears to have done South African Thomas Aiken no harm at all and he takes a one-shot lead into the third round of the Open de España in Barcelona.
The 27-year-old, who did not even touch a club during a month in the Bahamas, had his second successive 68 at El Prat to take over at the top from Glasgow's Scott Jamieson whose par 72 dropped him into a share of third place with three others.
"When I started (practising) again I thought 'what the hell have you done?' because everything felt so strange," said Aiken.
"I wasn't expecting much this week. I was using it to prepare for the rest of the season."
As in the first round Aiken - six times a winner in his home country, but yet to lift a European Tour title - made up for two bogeys with six birdies to stand eight under par.
Tour rookie Jamieson dropped to joint third by following his opening 66 with a 72, a much better score than looked likely when he bogeyed three of the first six holes.
In between them is Pablo Larrazábal, playing on his home course and seeking a victory that he will surely dedicate to Seve Ballesteros, given the latest fears for the life of Spain's greatest-ever golfer.
Jose Maria Olazábal and Miguel Angel Jimenez, who know the five-time Major champion much better of course, were reportedly in tears when they hear the news and unable to speak after reaching halfway on level par and one under respectively.
Alongside 27-year-old Challenge Tour graduate Jamieson are England's Anthony Wall, Frenchman Romain Wattel and another of the home contingent, last season's Challenge Tour No 1 Alvaro Velasco. His 66 was the low round of the day.
Colin Montgomerie, without a top 10 finish for almost three years, had real hopes of climbing into contention at three under early in his round, but then came three bogeys and 11 pars in a row for a 74 that dropped him alongside Olazábal just outside the top 40.
Compatriot Jamieson commented: "I was happy to claw it back. More wind made it a bit tricky, but if you hit it well there are plenty of opportunities for birdies.
"I struggled with my pace on the greens all day."
England's Steve Webster, joint second overnight, crashed out of the event with a 79 that contained two triple bogey 6s, while defending champion Alvaro Quiros missed out by one as well on two over when he three-putted the last from ten feet.
SCOTSWATCH. Paul Lawrie took over as second to Scott Jamieson in the Scots' hit parade with a 71 for 143 to be lying joint 27th going into the final two rounds. But he looked to be drifting near the danger zone when he had slipped to two over par with about six holes to play.
Lawrie, a winner in Spain just a few weeks ago, then showed his class with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 18th.
The Saltman brothers could have done with Paul Lawrie's round - both of them astonishingly missed the cut from positions of comparative "safety" overnight. Lloyd crashed from 70 to 79 for 149, while Elliot, making his comeback after a three-month disciplinary ban, sagged from 72 to 80 for 152.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
136 Thomas Aiken (S Africa) 68 68.
137 Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) 67 70.
138 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 66 72, Romain Wattel (France) 67 71, Alvaro Velasco (Spain) 72 66, Anthony Wall (England) 68 70.
139 Gregory Bourdy (France) 68 71, Alex Noren (Sweden) 72 67.
140 Peter Lawrie (Ireland) 68 72.
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
143 Paul Lawrie 72 71 (T27).
144 Colin Montgomerie 70 74, Richie Ramsay 72 72 (T44).
145 Peter Whiteford 73 72, George Murray 72 73 (T56).
MISSED THE CUT (145 or better qualified)
149 Stephen Gallacher 74 75, Lloyd Saltman 70 79.
152 Elliot Saltman 72 80.
153 Steven O'Hara 75 78.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, May 06, 2011
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