Scotland’s Jamie McLeary shrugged off illness to storm to the top of the leaderboard on day two of the Turkish Airlines Challenge hosted by Carya Golf Club.
McLeary, who in 2009 became the first home winner of the Scottish Challenge, added a round of 67 to his opening 69 to move to the head of affairs on eight under par, one shot clear of Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera and England’s Sam Walker.
The feat was made all the more remarkable by the fact that he had considered withdrawing from the €175,000 tournament, the first Challenge Tour event to be played on European soil this season, due to a lingering fever.
The aggressive new approach he had vowed to adopt this week yielded few rewards on the front nine, as his only bogey of the tournament at the ninth hole saw him reach the turn on two under par.
But six birdies in a blistering back nine of 30 saw McLeary surge through the field at Carya Golf Club in Belek, Turkey.
The Edinburgh resident, who finished in 24th place in the Rankings last season, said: “I hit it close on a few of the early holes but didn’t make the putts, and then when I found water on the ninth I didn’t think it was going to be my day. But then I hit a good wedge shot for a birdie on the 10th, and I was up and running. My putting’s probably the best part of my game, so I knew that if I kept hitting it close there was a fair chance I’d take a few of the chances that came my way, and that’s how it worked out.
“I’m pretty pleased with how I’m playing, especially considering I’ve been struggling with a fever for the last week or so. I played a practice round on Monday but had to come in after six holes, because I was feeling so weak. Then on Wednesday I seriously considered pulling out of the Pro-Am, because I was still feeling so bad. But then I started feeling better yesterday, and today was much better again. So it’s a case of beware the wounded golfer!
“It’s just great to be out playing again, what with the Morocco event last week having to be cancelled. I’ve now got nine weeks in a row, which will be tiring but I’m really looking forward to it. We had a really bad winter back home and I didn’t manage to get away much, so it’s nice to be out here playing a fantastic course in such great weather.”
Like McLeary, Lorenzo-Vera – winner of the Challenge Tour in 2007 – also struggled on the front nine, cancelling out his opening birdie with bogeys at the second and seventh holes, where he found trouble off the tee.
But the talented Frenchman raised his game after the turn, picking up three shots to take a share of second place alongside Walker. Walker’s round got off to a rousing start with back-to-back birdies at the first two holes and, despite a bogey at the par three 13th hole, he would sign for a round of 68.
Lorenzo-Vera said: “I didn’t drive the ball well today at all. It was going right, then left – basically anywhere but down the middle! But I think I found the problem on the 18th, so I’ll get out on the range and hopefully sort it out. I actually got off to a good start, but after that my game went downhill very fast. But I was pleased with how I brought it back on the back nine because I could’ve dropped my head, but I stayed positive and got the rewards for it.
“I’m trying to build up some more confidence this season, because last year was obviously really disappointing for me. I came close to keeping my card but in the end I just didn’t play well enough when I needed to, so I didn’t deserve to keep my card. I’m probably going to divide my time between the two Tours this year, but mainly I’ll probably concentrate on the Challenge Tour. I really enjoyed my time out here in 2007, so hopefully I can play as well again this year.”
Denmark’s Lasse Jensen, winner of the 2009 Nordic League Order of Merit, is in fourth place on six under par after he compiled a round of 70.
The seven players who share fifth place include joint overnight leader Raymond Russell, who endured a frustrating day with a round of 71. In contrast, England’s Steven Tiley hit five birdies in a flawless round to join Russell on five under par.
