Bernd Ritthammer showed why he arrived at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final as a two-time winner on this year’s Road to Oman with a stunning second round of 64 that took him one shot clear of the field at Al Mouj Golf.
On a perfect scoring day in Muscat, the German took a hold on the European Challenge Tour’s season finale, making an eagle and seven birdies to move to 13 under par, with Alexander Bjӧrk his nearest rival.
Ritthammer is already assured of his European Tour card this year, as he is certain to finish in the top 16 of the Rankings come the end of the week, and with the pressure off he produced his best golf around the stunning Greg Norman-designed course.
“Another win would help me a lot for next season as I could jump the queue,” said the 29 year old. “I could even jump ahead of the first spot on the Road to Oman category-wise.
“Although I can’t win the Rankings it would be very nice as there will be a few more tournaments that I can play in next year, like Abu Dhabi maybe, where I need to have a higher ranking in order to compete.
“It has been an advantage this week coming in knowing I have my European Tour card for next season. There is some pressure on the top four who can still win the Rankings, then everyone down from 11th spot also needs to have a good performance this week, so I am one of the guys who can go out and just enjoy it.
“My iron game was very strong today, and the conditions were perfect for scoring. It also helped that I was playing with Jens Dantorp today as he was four under after five, so even though I was three under after four it made me feel that I had some catching up to do.
“Overall I am very happy with the way I am playing and it would be great if I could win, but there is a long way to go.”
Sweden’s Bjӧrk, who like Ritthammer will graduate this week, shot the round of the day with a course record 63 to take second on his own ahead of compatriot Jens Dantorp, for whom nothing less than a win will suffice if he is to earn a spot on next year’s Race to Dubai.
Overnight co-leaders James Heath and Matthieu Pavon complete the top five two shots further back on nine under par, with Heath, in 18thplace on the 2016 Road to Oman coming into the week, now provisionally moving into the top 16 at the expense of Joël Stalter.
