Ian Woosnam remains on course for a ‘home’ victory in the Acorn Jersey Open after a second consecutive round of 67 at La Moye Golf Club, to take a two-stroke lead into the final round.
The Welshman, who lives on the Channel Island, birdied the opening two holes and carded another on the sixth, narrowly missing a putt for eagle.
He dropped his only shot of the day on the eighth hole, but three birdies in his final four holes moved the 1991 Masters Champion to ten under par and in pole position for his first European Senior Tour win since the Dutch Senior Open in 2014.
Despite matching yesterday’s score in the testing wind on the Jersey coast, Woosnam believes he left a number of shots out on the course.
He said: “It could have been less earlier on, but I had a little stutter in the middle and was trying to hang on. The wind swirled around a bit, and it was tricky to get the right club. But I hit a lovely putt on the last to lead the tournament.
“The wind got up a little bit, and being at the back of the field we probably got the most of the wind. I think the rain made it a bit easier on the greens, and it was the best I’ve putted for a long, long time.
“It would be nice to play well on the final day. I’ll just have to dig in during the middle of the round. Hopefully my putting will stick tomorrow.”
Woosnam is chasing a La Moye double, having also won the Jersey Open on the European Tour in 1987, but he will face a stern test with Gordon Manson, Des Smyth and Gary Wolstenholme all tied for second place on eight under par.
Former Ryder Cup player Smyth and three-time Senior Tour winner Wolstenholme both surged up the leaderboard with rounds of 65, while Austrian Manson recovered from a double bogey on the fifth for a 67.
Smyth, who was one of Woosnam’s Vice Captains at the 2006 Ryder Cup, was understandably delighted to be in contention as he goes in search of his first title in four years.
“I wasn’t watching the leaderboard,” he said.” I was more concerned with what I was doing on the golf course. I had a great day. 65 is probably my lowest round for three years.
“I got off to a poor start and then had a nice run of birdies. When I made the turn I felt if I could shoot three under it would put me in a position to have a shot tomorrow – not knowing I’d rip it up.
“I’d been tinkering with my swing and putting stroke, so wasn’t bubbling with confidence. But if you bag a 65, it’s a good day.”
Englishman Paul Broadhurst sits in fifth place, a shot further back on seven under par, and Spaniard Santiago Luna is on six under going into tomorrow’s final round.
