Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez carded a level par 70 to remain in contention after the second round of the US Senior Open, at Scioto Country Club.
The former Ryder Cup star, who is leading the charge by European Senior Tour members, shot a two under par 68 in the first round, and is just three shots off the pace, behind American Joey Sindelar who scored a round-best 66 to take the lead.
Jiménez, a 21-time winner on the European Tour, is in search of a maiden Senior Tour win and a first Senior Major Championship, but is in fine form in 2016 after finishing tied third at The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Carnoustie, and picking up one win on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit, in addition to five top-four finishes in America.
He shares fourth place with Canadian Stephen Ames and American Glen Day.
“It was quite difficult today,” said Jiménez. “There was a gusting wind out there and it’s sometimes difficult to use some clubs. With these firm and fast greens, it’s not easy.
“I think I’m fine where I am after 36 holes, I’m just three strokes back.”
Americans Billy Mayfair and Gene Sauers sit in second and third place respectively on four and three under par.
First round leader Vijay Singh is four shots behind Sindelar in a share of eighth place with five other golfers, including former Masters champion Ian Woosnam, after his second round 73.
“I didn’t hit that many fairways,” said the three-time Major winner, Singh. “It was a lot windier. I got some bad breaks and didn’t putt as well. All in all, I managed. I didn’t play as bad as the score reads.
“I can make a lot of ground if I play well. I had my chances. It could have very easily been even par, but I turned around the other way.
“Come the weekend, if the weather stays, if it doesn’t get too rainy, I think I can get in front.”
Senior Major winners, Englishman Paul Broadhurst, German Bernhard Langer and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, share 23rd place and are three over par after two rounds in Columbus, Ohio.
Langer, a two-time Major Champion and four-time Senior Major Champion, is in search of a second US Senior Open title, after success in 2010 where he completed a Senior Major double, winning both The Senior Open and US Senior Open.
The 2004 Ryder Cup-winning captain rued a number of missed chances as he felt as though he was let down by his usually-reliable short game.
“I played fantastic, I really did, for the most part,” he said. “I drove the ball phenomenal and hit some good irons pretty close, but just couldn’t make anything.
“There was a lot of good golf without making many putts. I definitely left some out there on Thursday and Friday, I should be under par, but I’m not and that’s golf. You never have what you think you deserve. I could have easily been three or four under, but I shot even par. That’s how it is.”
