Route 66 for resurgent Ramsay

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Aberdonian Richie Ramsay, pictured by courtesy of Getty Images(c), put injury and form frustrations behind him to surge through the field in the second round of the Trophee Hassan II, with the Scot firing a six under par 66 to share the halfway lead in Morocco with Wales’ Oliver Farr, Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Australian Richard Green.

Ramsay, who has been struggling with a back injury, has not registered in the prize money on The European Tour so far this year, missing four cuts and withdrawing after three rounds in Dubai due to illness.

But he showed the kind of form that has earned him two European Tour titles with six birdies at Golf du Palais Royal in Agadir, to join morning starters Cabrera-Bello (69) and Green (70) at the top of the leaderboard on six under par 138.

Welshman Farr, playing in the final group of the day off the first tee, reached seven under par when he posted his fifth birdie of the day on the penultimate hole, but chipped up short on the last and could only make bogey for a four under par round of 68.

Farr won the Turkish Airlines Challenge last May and finished tenth on the 2014 Challenge Tour rankings to earn his card for the current European Tour season, and after making his fifth cut in ten events he will be looking to earn a maiden victory in the top tier.  

South African George Coetzee remains in contention for a second European Tour title in as many appearances, and a spot in next month’s Masters Tournament, after a level par round of 72. He is one shot off the pace on five under par, in a five-way tie for fifth position.

Key player quotes

Richie Ramsay – 66 (-6 total)
“The last few months have been frustrating. You just want to go out and play. I’ve had a few niggling injuries. I’ve just tried to stick to my guns and make sure I stretch, Have a good practice routine. That builds up and slowly but surely it comes around and today was the day it happened. Hopefully it can stay for the weekend.”
Oliver Farr – 68 (-6 total)
“It’s my first time here and it is absolutely fantastic to play, in the King’s garden. It’s spectacular, that’s all I can say.

This year has been great. Each week there are new challenges. Dealing with everything is tricky but I’m enjoying it. I have played nicely in South Africa. There is a lot to take in with the altitude. It’s nice to come back to more European style course.

Being in a share of the lead is great. It’s what we prepare for and practise for. We are only halfway through but hopefully I can be there on Sunday.”

Rafa Cabrera-Bello – 69 (-6 total)

“This is the first time I’ve worn golf shoes in six weeks. I broke my pinky toe on my right foot – not even a funny story, just banging it on a table. I haven’t been able to wear golf shoes as it was too painful. Today was the first day I’ve been able to wear them again, and it has been fine. I tried them on this morning and it felt fine. It was a little risky but it was ok. 
Yesterday was superlight golf shoes. I had to play in Puerto Rico in tennis shoes and could barely tie them. I then managed to get some really wide, and big shoes to wear in Tampa, and today’s the first day it has been ok to wear the proper golf shoes. I’m pleased it didn’t bother me too much.”

Richard Green – 70 (-6 total)

“I had a bit of break since Thailand and not played a lot of golf. I got myself ready for this week and to find myself six under after two rounds is great. I was pretty happy with the form in Thailand and the tournaments leading up to that. I’ve still got the same swing thoughts and mental thoughts, so it has carried on this week. 
"This is a tricky golf course and you have to stick to a conservative plan. I like that sort of golf and it is suiting my game so far. It is very much like an Australian conditions, with a bit of wind, and it is suiting me.”

SECOND-ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72) 72 players made cut on two-over 146 and better 
138 O Farr (Wal) 70 68, R Ramsay  (Sco) 72 66, R Green (Aus) 68 70, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 69 69
139 G Coetzee (RSA) 67 72, C Wood  (Eng) 67 72, B Evans  (Eng) 69 70, P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 69, R Bland (Eng) 69 70
140 K Phelan (Irl) 70 70, J Campillo (Esp) 71 69, D Drysdale (Sco) 67 73, J Lagergren (Swe) 72 68, D Howell (Eng) 70 70, A Wall (Eng) 68 72, M Orrin (Eng) 70 70, J Van Zyl (RSA) 69 71
141 O Wilson (Eng) 68 73, C Paisley  (Eng) 71 70, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 70 71, R Santos  (Por) 69 72, B Ritthammer (Ger) 71 70, D Horsey (Eng) 70 71, S Kjeldsen (Den) 68 73, S Benson (Eng) 73 68,

142 R Wattel  (Fra) 68 74, M Schneider (Ger) 73 69, A McArthur  (Sco) 71 71, P Edberg (Swe) 71 71, F Fritsch  (Ger) 70 72, M Korhonen (Fin) 68 74, A Saddier (Fra) 65 77

143 E Grillo (Arg) 74 69, M Lampert (Ger) 68 75, E Espana (Fra) 73 70, S Jamieson  (Sco) 74 69, M Manassero (Ita) 72 71, M Hoey  (Nir) 70 73, B An (Kor) 72 71, A Johnston (Eng) 72 71, E De La Riva  (Esp) 68 75, M Carlsson  (Swe) 73 70, W Ormsby (Aus) 71 72, K Broberg (Swe) 73 70

144 N Fasth (Swe) 71 73, P Waring  (Eng) 70 74, S Hend (Aus) 71 73, J Walters (RSA) 71 73, A Marshall (Eng) 71 73

145 M Lundberg (Swe) 70 75, J Olazábal (Esp) 69 76, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 75, S Kapur (Ind) 72 73, N Elvira  (Esp) 73 72, M Foster (Eng) 73 72, J Morrison  (Eng) 72 73, O Fisher  (Eng) 74 71, E Pepperell (Eng) 71 74, C Lloyd (Eng) 76 69

146 M Matsumura (Jpn) 72 74, G Bourdy (Fra) 75 71, R Karlsson (Swe) 72 74, P Oriol (Esp) 71 75, L Slattery (Eng) 77 69, B Hebert  (Fra) 75 71, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 74 72, R Jacquelin (Fra) 70 76, R Rock (Eng) 74 72, T Lewis (Eng) 69 77, M Kieffer (Ger) 73 73, P Widegren  (Swe) 73 73, R Finch  (Eng) 75 71

MISSED THE CUT

147 G Stal  (Fra) 70 77, M Siem  (Ger) 68 79, D McGrane (Irl) 76 71, J Parry (Eng) 74 73, A Levy (Fra) 72 75, J Palmer (Eng) 74 73, S Manley (Wal) 74 73, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 74 73, G Storm  (Eng) 74 73

148 A Tadini (Ita) 72 76, D Gaunt (Eng) 66 82, A Velasco (Esp) 76 72, Y El Hassani (Mar) 74 74, A Quiros  (Esp) 73 75, D Lipsky (USA) 76 72, J Lee (am) (SKor) 75 73

149 L Jensen (Den) 75 74, M Tullo (Chi) 71 78, J Scrivener (Aus) 75 74, P Maddy (Eng) 72 77, A Hortal  (Esp) 77 72, A Sullivan (Eng) 74 75

150 G Maybin (Nir) 74 76, A Pavan (Ita) 71 79, J Roos (RSA) 75 75, A Cañizares  (Esp) 77 73, R Paratore (Ita) 74 76, M Keskari (Ger) 74 76

151 R McEvoy  (Eng) 75 76, M Crespi  (Ita) 73 78, M Ford (Eng) 77 74, B Dredge (Wal) 72 79

152 A Otaegui  (Esp) 71 81, P Lawrie (Irl) 76 76, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 78 74, J Hahn (USA) 78 74, M Nixon (Eng) 76 76, T Pieters  (Bel) 71 81

153 S Hutsby  (Eng) 74 79, C Lee (Sco) 78 75, R Davies (Wal) 82 71, M Baldwin (Eng) 76 77

154 M Fitzpatrick  (Eng) 77 77, J Edfors (Swe) 77 77, D Woltman (USA) 77 77, R Fisher (Eng) 77 77, J Barnes (Eng) 76 78, F Serghini  (Mar) 75 79

155 T Hatton (Eng) 79 76, C Bouniol (Fra) 80 75, T Murray (Eng) 77 78, C Del Moral (Esp) 76 79, J Fahrbring (Swe) 73 82, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 81 74, R Gonzalez (Arg) 76 79

158 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 76 82

159 S Henry  (Sco) 80 79, A Lguirati (am) (Mar) 80 79

160 A Marjane  (Mar) 83 77, P Dedek (am) (Cze) 80 80

161 T Levet (Fra) 83 78, J White (Eng) 75 86, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 76 85

162 D Brooks (Eng) 73 89

165 R El Kharraz (Mar) 82 83

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