ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

BRADLEY DREDGE LEADS
BUT PAUL LAWRIE
MAKES MOVE WITH 65
The amazing week of Welshman Bradley Dredge showed no sign of slowing down as he chipped in twice at Carnoustie on his way to a second-round 67 to give him a three-shot lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Just 24 hours earlier he had celebrated after creating a new Old Course record of 64.
Behind Dredge on 10 under par are South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, who shot a 67 at St Andrews, and Sweden’s Johan Edfors, who followed yesterday’s 64 at Kingsbarns with a 70 on the Old Course.
Lurking ominously within five shots of the leader, as the championship heads into what promises to be an exciting weekend, are some of the leading players in the world, including Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, Fiji’s Vijay Singh, South Africa’s Ernie Els and England’s Paul Casey.
Dredge, who had a purple patch in midsummer when he had four European Tour top 10 finishes in a row, chipped in at the 10th, his first hole, for a birdie 3, then again at the second, from 30ft, for another birdie 3.
He said: “I got off to a good start again today making birdies on the first two holes. I hit some really, really good shots at the start. A couple of iffy shots now and then, but I managed to scramble it around when I did hit a poor one.
"Apart from a bogey at the sixth, I am very pleased with the day.”
World No 5 Vijay Singh had four birdies in five holes to turn in 32, but bogeys at the 13th and the Road Hole slowed down what looked at one point like a hot round. Vijay finished with 70 on nine under par alongside Harrington and England’s Simon Dyson. He said:
“Some bad weather came in and knocked me out of my stride. I had a good chance at the 12th, but it was raining heavily and missed a tap-in on the 14th. At that point I was threatening the lead.
"I made a mistake at the 17th and did not get up and down from the Valley of Sin on the 18th. At least I am swinging well and I like my position at this stage. I would like to win on one of these great courses.
"I just find it a little difficult to get used to the conditions. And when it’s cold you need to get your head down and battle to see what happens.”
DRUMMOND IS LEADING SCOT AT -8
One shot further back on eight under par are South Africa’s Ernie Els, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez, Scotland’s Scott Drummond and Finland’s Mikko Ilonen. World No 6 Els, who had a second- round 67 on the Old Course, said: “My driving pleased me the last two days. My iron play could be a bit better, but my putting is fine. I’m looking forward to Carnoustie tomorrow.
It’s obviously the toughest of the three courses and might give me the chance to make up some shots on the field.”
Paul Casey, who led after the first round following a 63 at Kingsbarns, had a poor day by his own high standards with a two over par 74 at St Andrews, which included a double bogey 6 at the 18th where he drove out of bounds.
Paul is now on seven under par with a large group of players which includes 2001 champion of this tournament (and the 1999 Open winner, of course!) Paul Lawrie (pictured above right) who shot a 65 at Kingsbarns.
While the professionals where setting themselves up for a thrilling climax, the shot of the day came from an amateur, Nigel Taee, who had a hole-in-one at the 148yd 13th hole at Kingsbarns. Taee, Chairman of healthcare company Grosvenor House Group, said: “As we got to the tee my professional playing partner Robert Coles said ‘as you play off plus one this is where you give your shot back, so just go and hole it’. So I stood there with an 8-iron, it took one bounce and went into the hole. An enormously thrilling moment. I had my first hole-in-one at Queenwood a couple of years ago after 30 years of trying, so to have another one, especially in an event like this, is extremely special.”
AMATEUR'S HOLE IN ONE COUNTS AS A 2!
Robert Cole said: “I told him the bad news on the tee that even if he holed it, it would be for a 2. He hit it perfectly, it was straight down the pin all the way. Maybe he can get out of the drinks tonight by claiming it was only a 2.”
Despite the hole-in-one, Taee & Cole, on nine under par in the team competition, are well behind pacemakers Johan Edfors & Mats Andersson and Padraig Harrington & JP McManus, the winning pair in 2002, on 19 under par.
One shot further back are the father and son team of Angel Cabrera & Federico Cabrera and Robert Karlsson & Dermot Desmond. Irish businessman Desmond, who has improved his professional’s score by 11 shots over the first two rounds, said: "This is the best I've played at any pro-am event I've attended. The weather wasn't great today, but we can live with it and Robert and I managed to play a decent round. For me the best hole of the day was the 15th, which I birdied with a 30 foot putt.
“My partner Robert Karlsson is an excellent player and for me he's been a great partner. I'm having a great tournament so far, playing well and enjoying the good humour and good banter of the players and the caddies in our group."
Colin Montgomerie and Hollywood actor Michael Douglas pulled themselves up the field with a team score of 61 on the Old Course for a two round total of 16 under par. Montgomerie, who shot 67, said: “Michael was good today. He came in on six holes and now we are lying eighth which is better than last year. We’ll have a real crack at this thing over the next two days.” Michael Douglas added: “Monty putted his brains out. I’ve never seen anything like it. This is the only sport where you are allowed to play on the same playing field as the greatest players in the world. It’s a joy.”
ACTOR BILL MURRAY IS ENJOYING HIMSELF
Hollywood actor Bill Murray, who is on 15 under par with playing partner Miguel Angel Jiménez, said: "The company was good today and the rainbows were brilliant. It's been a lucky draw for me, my playing partner has done great over the last two days. My best shot of the day came on the 17th with a second shot 3-wood that made the green. I've had a lot of fun with the crowd here today - there are lots of people standing around waiting to have a good time. For me golf is about having fun and winning, and in that order.”
Sir Steve Redgrave, who with professional partner Daniel Vancsik is on six under par, birdied the final hole at Carnoustie. He said: “It was my first birdie in the competition so far, although I struggled a bit today. This is the highlight of my year. It’s the first thing that goes into my diary. I’ve probably played better this year than any other year, but it doesn’t look as if we’re going to make the cut.”
LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
131 Bradley Dredge (Wal) 64 67.
134 Simon Dyson (Eng) 66 68, Johan Edfors (Swe) 64 70, Charl Sschwartzel (SAf) 66 67.
135 Scott Drummond (Sco) 66 69, Padraig Harrington (Ire) 66 69, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 66 69, Vijah Singh (Fij) 65 70.
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES:
136 Paul Lawrie 71 65 (jt 9th).
139 Sam Torrance 67 72 (jt 32nd).
140 Colin Montgomerie 73 67, Steven O'Hara 69 71 (jt 40th).
142 Alastair Forsyth 73 69, Gary Orr 69 73, Marc Warren 70 72 (jt 68th).
143 Stephen Gallacher 72 71 (jt 86th).
144 David Drysdale 73 71 (jt 97th).
146 Sandy Lyle 72 74, Doug McGuigan 72 74 (jt 129th).
147 Andrew Oldcorn 72 75 (jt 135th).
148 Andrew Coltart 74 74 (jt 149th).


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