ALASTAIR FORSYTH WELL PLACED IN SAINT-OMER OPEN

REPORT BY SARAH GWYNN

 sgwynn@europeantour.com 

Alastair Forsyth was the highest-placed Scot in the Saint-Omer Open presented by Neuflize OBC after a one over par second round 72 left him one under overall at Lumbres, France.

The 36 year old had four birdies and five bogeys in wet and windy conditions at Aa Saint Omer Golf Club to lie five shots off the lead held by Korean Sihwan Kim.

Forsyth’s compatriot Raymond Russell was well placed after the first round, but struggled to a four over par 75 on day two to slip back to one over par overall, while Craig Lee signed for a 72 to go to two over, the same score as Lloyd Saltman, who had a 74.

Chris Doak was the only other Scottish player to make the halfway cut at five over, while Steven O’Hara, Jamie McLeary and Andrew McArthur were all forced to withdraw with injuries. 

Eleven days ago South Korean Sihwan Kim was ruing his bad luck at narrowly missing out on qualifying for this week’s US Open Championship, but he went some way in making up for that disappointment by taking the halfway lead in the Saint-Omer Open.

The 23 year old, who is playing his first season in Europe, was involved in a five-man play-off at Walton Heath, from which four spots to the year’s second Major were on offer. He was the unlucky one, however, and instead of heading to San Francisco, he went to Saint Omer, where he fired a two under par 69 in the second round to lead at six under.

Kim said: “I’ve been having horrendous luck for the last two weeks and I was really gutted to miss out in that play-off at Walton Heath. So I’m happy that I’m getting a bit luckier this week, and if I could do well here it would make up for it a bit. It would be nice to get some payback for that one.

“My score could have been a lot better, but I’ll just take what the course gives me. I didn’t feel that it was playing that hard, but the wind picked up over the last few holes and will definitely make the conditions tougher in the afternoon.” 

And so it proved as no player threatened the lead all afternoon as the wind and rain worsened. Joint overnight leaders Adam Gee and Simon Wakefield both battled to a one over par 72 to sit at three under, two shots behind second placed South African Darren Fichardt, who added a two under par 69 to his first round 68.

“I had a stupid three-putt at the seventh which was annoying as I’d started well,” said Fichardt. “But overall I’m pleased as it was very tricky out there. The wind was gusting and making club selection very difficult. I didn’t hit it close to many pins.”

Fichardt, who played in the World Cup in 2000 with Retief Goosen, enjoyed his best finish of the season in last week’s Nordea Masters – tied 14th – which has given him more confidence.

“I’ve put myself in good positions a few times this season but then have had really bad last rounds,” he added. “So it was pleasing to finish well last week in Sweden. It was a swing thing which I’ve corrected, and it should be more reliable when under pressure.

“Hopefully it will stand me in good stead for the weekend here. I’m looking forward to it.”

Gee is finding some promising form again after missing most of last season with a hip injury which required surgery. His challenge took a blow, however, when he triple-bogeyed the par five 14th hole – his fifth – but he rallied well and finished with two birdies in the last three holes.

“I can’t be too hard on myself as I played really well today, and one over is actually a pretty good score in these conditions,” he said. “This course is tough enough in nice weather, let alone in a hurricane.

“I’m pleased with the way I bounced back from the triple bogey and I’m still up there with a good chance going into the weekend.”

The €500,000 tournament is dual-ranked between The European Tour and the Challenge Tour, and prize money counts for both The Race to Dubai and the Challenge Tour Rankings.

The winner gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2013.

Eighty players made the cut at five over par 147

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
136 Sihwan Kim (South Korea) 67 69
137 Darren Fichardt (South Africa) 68 69
139 Simon Wakefield (England) 67 72, Adam Gee (England) 67 72
140 Simon Thornton (Ireland) 71 69, Wil Besseling (Netherlands) 71 69
141 Alastair Forsyth (Scotland) 69 72, Andy Sullivan (England) 70 71, Andrea Perrino (Italy) 73 68, Justin Walters (South Africa) 73 68, Daniel Denison (England) 71 70, James Heather (England) 71 70.
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
143 Raymond Russell 68 75 (T18)
144 Lloyd Saltman 70 74, Craig Lee 72 72 (T30)
147 Chris Doak 75 72 (T63)

MISSED THE CUT (147 and better qualified)
148 Callum Macaulay 73 75
150 Scott Henry 75 75
Retired Steven O'Hara (first round), Andrew McArthur 76 ret, Jamie McLeary 81 ret.

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