Ignacio Garrido gave himself the chance of his first victory on The European Tour International Schedule since the PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in 2003 when he moved into the lead at the halfway stage of The KLM Open at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club in The Netherlands.
The 34 year old Spaniard was one of the players who could not complete his second round on Friday night and returned on Saturday morning to do so. Even then, he had a further wait as another early morning thunder and lightning storm in the Zandvoort area delayed the restart from 8.10am to 9.00am.
But when play did get underway, Garrido finished his final seven holes for a four under par 67 and seven under par total of 135 to lead the way by one shot.
The 1997 Ryder Cup player could have been even further ahead but he dropped shots at his last two holes of the morning, the par three eighth where he missed his four foot par putt, and the par four ninth where he missed the green with his approach shot and did not get up and down. But he remained philosophical.
“I am happy with my position,” he said. “I played well but it was a pity the last couple of holes but that is golf. I didn’t do anything particularly wrong but on this course it can happen. Any little off shots and you are going to pay for them so it is just a case of hanging on and being patient.
“The course was a little easier when we came back this morning. There was no wind which was a big factor on this course and it was a little bit softer so it was easier to stop the ball. It is always nice to take the lead into the weekend. Better to be there than further back, so I am looking forward to it.”
Garrido has a one shot lead over four players, Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen – the only one of the quartet to finish his second round on Friday night – England’s Phillip Archer, France’s Christian Cévaër and Raymond Russell of Scotland.
At the end of the morning play, the cut fell at one over par 143, meaning that 73 players remain to contest the final two rounds.
