SCOTS SHARE LEAD IN MOROCCO

Two Scots - Andrew McArthur from Glasgow and Aberdeen's Richie Ramsay - share the lead with Frenchman Romain Wattel with one round go at Agadir, West Morocco in this weekend's European Tour event.

McArthur, pictured right, and Wattel shot third-round 71s for seven-under 209 while
Ramsay had a 71 for the same 54-hole tally.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
209 Andrew McArthur (Scotland) 71 71 67, Romain Wattel (France) 68 74 67, Richie Ramsay (Scotland) 72 66 71

OTHER SCOTS
214 Scott Jamieson 74 69 71 (T31)
216 David Drysdale 67 73 76 (T49) 

SUNDAY FINISH SHOULD BE A THRILLER

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
The Trophee Hassan II is set for a fascinating finale with Scottish pair Richie Ramsay, picture above by courtesy of Getty Images (c), and Andrew McArthur sharing the lead with Frenchman Romain Wattel going into the final round, and a further seven players just one shot back at Agadir on Morocco's western Atlantic coastline.
McArthur. a former Scottish amateur champion from Glasgow, and Wattel both posted five under par rounds of 67 to set the clubhouse target of seven under par 209 which was then matched by Ramsay, who dropped a shot on the final hole of his third round after finding the thick rough off the tee. 
The two-time European Tour champion from Aberdeen, joint leader at the halfway stage, hit a tree with his second shot, and after a fine eight iron third shot, he just missed the hole with a 20ft par putt to make it a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.
Both McArthur and Wattel will be hoping to land a maiden European Tour title at Golf du Palais Royal, with Wattel moving into contention after picking up five shots in the closing six holes of his round, including an eagle 3 on the 17th.
South African George Coetzee, who needs a victory to secure an invite to next month’s Masters tournament, is one shot back on six under par following a battling round of 71. 
He is tied with six other players, including compatriot Jaco Van Zyl, who closed with a double bogey 6 on the tricky 18th hole for a round of 70, and 2011 champion David Horsey, whose 69 puts him in contention to be the tournament’s first multiple winner.  

Key player quotes
Andrew McArthur – 67 (-7 total)
“It would be massive if I could win. I've been playing Challenge Tour for one too many years. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I need to get through those first four or five holes. They are brutal. I got really lucky on the second today. I duffed my chip and managed to walk off with bogey. I could still be there chipping. The leaderboard is packed so I just need to get on with it and see what happens.
Romain Wattel – 67 (-7 total)
“It was a thrilling back nine. It is always nice to finish the round like that. . I was two under quite quickly then I had a few mistakes. I had a good putt on 12 for bogey and that was the key today. If I had missed it would have been a big pain. After this putt I still have confidence even if it was only for bogey.”
Richie Ramsay – 71 (-7 total)
“I’m pleased to be in the hunt. I’m a fraction frustrated as I played some great stuff out there. I hit a lot of shots down the target line and nearly holed some iron shots out there, but I just couldn’t hole any putts. I got a couple of bobbles. 
"I’m giving myself opportunities and sooner or later I’m going to hole some. I’ve not holed many this week, so I’m due some tomorrow.”
George Coetzee – 71 (-6 total)
“I’m quite surprised the guys haven’t gone away from me. I’ve been battling away the last couple of days, but I’m happy to be in the mix still. I’ve made a few silly errors, but I feel like I’m in a good space and I’m happy with the comeback today. It puts me in good position for tomorrow.

I need birdies tomorrow. There are so many guys in the mix, so you can’t control it. You just have to play good golf.”


THIRD-ROUND SCORES
Par 216 (3x72)
209 A McArthur  (Sco) 71 71 67, R Ramsay  (Sco) 72 66 71, R Wattel  (Fra) 68 74 67
210 D Horsey (Eng) 70 71 69, E Grillo (Arg) 74 69 67, G Coetzee (SAfr) 67 72 71, K Phelan (Irl) 70 70 70, R Bland (Eng) 69 70 71, S Kjeldsen (Den) 68 73 69, J Van Zyl (RSA) 69 71 70
211 W Ormsby (Aus) 71 72 68, M Lundberg (Swe) 70 75 66,
212 B Ritthammer (Ger) 71 70 71, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 69 69 74, O Farr (Wal) 70 68 74, S Kapur (Ind) 72 73 67, A Wall (Eng) 68 72 72, P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 69 73, M Orrin (Eng) 70 70 72
213 P Edberg (Swe) 71 71 71, A Saddier (Fra) 65 77 71, S Benson (Eng) 73 68 72, C Wood  (Eng) 67 72 74, M Korhonen (Fin) 68 74 71, M Carlsson  (Swe) 73 70 70, A Marshall (Eng) 71 73 69, C Paisley  (Eng) 71 70 72, J Campillo (Esp) 71 69 73, B Evans  (Eng) 69 70 74
214 R Karlsson (Swe) 72 74 68, B An (Kor) 72 71 71, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 70 71 73, S Jamieson  (Sco) 74 69 71, M Schneider (Ger) 73 69 72, R Green (Aus) 68 70 76, E Pepperell (Eng) 71 74 69, E De La Riva  (Esp) 68 75 71, G Bourdy (Fra) 75 71 68, O Wilson (Eng) 68 73 73, M Kieffer (Ger) 73 73 68, R Santos  (Por) 69 72 73
215 J Lagergren (Swe) 72 68 75, B Hebert  (Fra) 75 71 69, J Walters (SAfr) 71 73 71, P Widegren  (Swe) 73 73 69, M Manassero (Ita) 72 71 72, P Oriol (Esp) 71 75 69, J Olazábal (Esp) 69 76 70
216 M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 74 72 70, M Foster (Eng) 73 72 71, D Drysdale (Sco) 67 73 76, R Jacquelin (Fra) 70 76 70, M Lampert (Ger) 68 75 73, P Waring  (Eng) 70 74 72
 217 T Lewis (Eng) 69 77 71, K Broberg (Swe) 73 70 74, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 75 72, D Howell (Eng) 70 70 77, J Morrison  (Eng) 72 73 72
218 N Fasth (Swe) 71 73 74, F Fritsch  (Ger) 70 72 76, N Elvira  (Esp) 73 72 73, R Rock (Eng) 74 72 72
219 M Hoey  (Nir) 70 73 76, E Espana (Fra) 73 70 76
220 C Lloyd (Eng) 76 69 75, M Matsumura (Jpn) 72 74 74, A Johnston (Eng) 72 71 77
221 O Fisher  (Eng) 74 71 76
222 L Slattery (Eng) 77 69 76
223 R Finch  (Eng) 75 71 77
228 S Hend (Aus) 71 73 84

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Jimmy Walker the local hero at Texas Open 
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
SAN ANTONIO — Jimmy Walker felt right at home at TPC San Antonio during the second round. With friends and family in the crowd, the FedExCup points leader and local resident put on a show with three straight birdies in a four-hole stretch to take the clubhouse lead at the halfway point of the Valero Texas Open. 
Scot Marc Warren, needing a high finish to make the Masters field, is lying T47 on 148 after a pair of 74s. 
Martin Laird is on 147 (76-71) but Russell Knox (78-73 for 151) missed the cut by one shot.
Jimmy Walker opened the morning with two birdies in his first five holes before recording his only bogey of the round on the par-4 17th hole when his 7-foot par putt slid by the cup.
 His lone blemish on the card ended up being the turning point in the round, as Walker closed his first nine with a birdie before making three more over the next nine holes, including a 19-footer on the par-3 7th hole, to shoot 5-under 67. 
"I was just kind of around the hole, didn't make anything, and then finally got one to go on six," Walker said. 
"I hit a good iron shot, just got it on top of the ridge there on 7 and made that putt. And that 12-footer I made for birdie on the par-5 [8th hole], that was a nice little finish."
Through two rounds, the putter has been the most important club in Walker's bag and has him not only leading the field in strokes gained-putting (plus-6.536), but the tournament as well. 
Earlier this season, Walker returned to the 11-year-old Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter he won twice with and topped the money list on the 2004 Web.com Tour. The putter played an intergral role in Walker's victory at the 2015 Sony Open, as he recorded 11 consecutive one-putts during the third round to distance himself from the field. 
Walker had the putter restored to its original condition and 10-gram tungsten weights added to the sole, which provided the weight he prefers. 
"I've been rolling it pretty good," Walker said. "I've been working hard on my putting at home and it was ready to go this week. It feels like the hard work is paying off."
The putter has Walker two rounds away from winning his hometown tournament. The four-time PGA TOUR winner has had a couple close calls in recent years, including a T3 in 2010. With a win already under his belt this season, Walker has his sights set on getting another with his friends and family in the stands — something he said would make the victory extra special. 
"A win anywhere means a lot," Walker said. "But being at home, you get to have parents, in-laws, friends, best friends, distant family. It would be cool. It doesn't put anymore pressure on you, 
"I think. If anything, you've got a nice support crew out there and you've got good vibes and good mojo — and I believe in all that stuff. So I think positive energy is good. I think we'll have a lot of that."

---

MORE VALERO: Daily wrap-up | Leaderboard | Tee times | FedExCup projections | Course overview |  Photo gallery | Shot of the Day

---

---

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR: Following a day that saw the scoring average soar to 76.69 and wind gusts upwards of 30-plus miles per hour, players were greeted with considerably better conditions during the second round.
 Jordan Spieth was one of the players who took advantage during the morning wave, firing a 3-under 69 to get within striking distance of the leaders after two rounds.  
While favourable scoring conditions are expected over the next two days, Spieth said he wouldn't mind seeing Mother Nature make an appearance on the weekend.
"I would like to see a little bit more wind than today on the weekend to have a chance to shoot a few under and make up some ground," Spieth said. "Overall, I'm very pleased with today. I got a really good draw today, on top of yesterday, and took advantage."
Spieth, who played with clubhouse leader Jimmy Walker and James Hahn, took advantage of benign weather conditions, carding five birdies to go along with two bogeys. If not for a bogey on the par-4 9th hole, Spieth's last of the day, the two-time PGA TOUR winner would have finished only one shot back of Walker. 
Even with the bogey finish, Spieth remained bullish about his chances going into the weekend.  
"It played about as easy as I think it can play today," Spieth said. "A couple of the holes were still in tough locations, but there should be some more gettable locations this weekend. But all in all, this was the day to take advantage. 
"I'm in contention which is right where I want to be. I'm chasing Aaron [Baddeley] and Jimmy [Walker], two really, really good players that aren't going to give up the lead easily, so I'm going to have to bring my A-game." 

---

LUCK OF THE DRAW: Kevin Na will always be remembered for the 16 he record on the par-4 9th hole at TPC San Antonio's Oak Course in 2011, but he's trying his best this week to earn a new title: Valero Texas Open champion.
Na put himself in a good position to make a run at the leaders after posting a 4-under 68 that has him within two shots of Jimmy Walker heading into the weekend. 
For the second day in a row, Na managed to get the correct side of the draw, missing Thursday's weather that wreaked havoc on the morning wave and returning to the course on Friday to favorable scoring conditions. 
"We definitely got a break in the afternoon wave yesterday," Na said. "And I think we're catching another break today. Sometimes you need a little break. When you do get one you need to capitalize."
Na managed to capitalize on his good fortune by converting a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 12th hole that appeared to kickstart his round. Four more birdies were added to the card over the final 15 holes, including a 17-footer on the par-4 9th hole that left him feeling good about his chances. 
"I really like this course and played well today," Na said. "I've got a history, obviously. Besides that hole, I played great. I look forward to coming here and hopefully I'll do something special."

•  

---

ODDS and ENDS
Since moving to TPC San Antonio in 2010, this week's 6-over 150 supplants the previous-high cut of 4-over 148 (2011 and 2012). ...
Outside of the majors, this marks the highest cut on the PGA TOUR since the 2012 Quicken Loans National which featured a cut of 6-over 148. ...
Without a three-putt in the first two rounds, Freddie Jacobson extended his US Tour lead of 3-putt avoidance to 380 holes.  ...
Since 2000, six of the 15 second-round leaders/co-leaders of the Valero Texas Open have gone on to win the event, most recently Steven Bowditch last year.  ...
Harris English still has a chance to make the Masters field. The No. 53-ranked player in the world sits at 3-over for the tournament and likely needs to finish in seventh-place or better this week.  ...
Daniel Chopra (back), Francesco Molinari (wrist), Danny Lee (vertigo-like symptoms) and Zac Blair (back) withdrew during the second round with injuries. A total of seven players withdrew during the first two rounds.  ...
After two rounds only 14 players are under par at the Valero Texas Open.  ...
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Australian Aaron Baddeley, a three-time winner on the US PGA Tour, is in search of his first win on TOUR since the 2011 Northern Trust Open, a span of 95 starts.  ...
Zach Johnson (1-under 71) recorded the only bogey-free second round.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 7,435
Players from USA unless stated
138 Jimmy Walker 71 67
139 Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 68 71, Charley Hoffman 67 72
140 Kevin Na 72 68, Jordan Spieth 71 69

SELECTED SCORES
146 Brian Davis (England) 73 73 (T26)
147 Martin Laird (Scotland) 76 71 (T39)
148 Marc Warren (Scotland) 74 74,Shane Lowry (Ireland) 74 74 (T47)

MISSED THE CUT (150 and better qualified)
151 Russell Knox (Scotland) 78 73
152 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 80 72

Montgomerie shares Mississippi lead

FROM THE CHAMPIONS TOUR WEBSITE
SAUCIER, Mississippi -- Colin Montgomerie and Joe Durant sit atop a busy leaderboard after firing rounds of 5-under 67 in breezy conditions at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic
Montgomerie finished with a birdie on the par-4 ninth hole at Fallen Oak. The Scot won the Senior PGA Championship and U.S. Senior Open in 2014.
The players faced 10-20 mph wind out of the northwest with stronger gusts.
"This is a mere breeze where I'm from," Montgomerie said. "Five-under par is a good score today. Anything under par is a good score today with very testing conditions. Every shot today was different from yesterday because the wind was completely different. This is a very, very good course, perhaps the best we play on this Tour, and it's even more challenging in the wind."
"The wind was tough out there," Durant said. "It was swirly and gusty, but if you can put the ball in the right places on the greens, you can make some putts. It was a good test today."
Durant is playing in this event for the first time, but his resume includes a win in the 1996 Web.com Tour Mississippi Gulf coast Classic. He grew up in nearby Pensacola, Florida.
"It's nice to only be a couple of hours from home," Durant said.
Gene Sauers, Kevin Sutherland, David Frost, Woody Austin and Brad Faxon are a shot back after their opening rounds of 68.
Fred Couples, the 2012 champion, had a 71 and Jeff Maggert, the winner here last year in his Champions Tour debut, carded a 73.
Miguel Angel Jimenez closed with a double bogey for 76. The Spaniard won the season-opening event in Hawaii in January for his second victory in three career Champions Tour starts.
Jesper Parnevik also struggled, making a triple bogey on the par-3 third, finishing with a round of 76. He tied for 42nd last week his Champions Tour debut at the Tucson Conquistadores Classic, shooting 71-74-71.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72. Players from USA unless stated otherwise
67  Joe Durant, Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)
68 Gene Sauers, Kevin Sutherland, David Frost (S Africa), Woody Austin, Brad Faxon.

SELECTED SCORES
73 Fred Couples
76 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Jesper Parnevik (Sweden), Sandy Lyle (Scotland)
77 Ian Woosnam (Wales)
Disqualified - Roger Chapman (England)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE