A change of putter helped Paul Wesselingh surge back up the leaderboard with a four under par 68 in the second round of the French Riviera Masters at Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort.
The 2012 Rookie of the Year is chasing a strong performance in the south of France to strength his Order of Merit aspirations, and after a level par opening round of 72, the Englishman has more success on the greens as he carded five birdies and sank a 20ft eagle putt on the sixth.
Wesselingh, a two-time winner already this season, swapped his first round putter – which brought him success in the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship in June - for a lighter one and it paid off as he moved to four under par for the tournament.
“I changed my putter today and went back to the one I used in Russia last week, which was a lot lighter and it meant I could hit the putts and keep them on line,” he said. “I putted great today.
“It took me to the seventh until I had a par today and then I holed a nice putt on the last. I played really well.
“I did yesterday as well to be fair but the putter I used yesterday didn’t work as well. I didn’t have any feel with it. Today it felt like I could get the ball online and I was more positive with my stroke.”
Wesselingh is chasing a third victory of the season but also has one eye on keeping ahead of his rivals in the Order of Merit, with Andrew Oldcorn, Philip Golding and Peter Fowler all also feature at the sharp end of the leaderboard.
“There are a few guys up there as well, but I’m trying not to look too much at things like that,” he said. “I can’t influence what anyone else does, only myself. I said this morning that if I could shoot a couple of 68s this weekend I would be in a reasonable position, so I’ve done half the job now.”
