Johan Axgren showed just why he is currently the best player on the European Challenge Tour by assuming the lead at the Peugeot Challenge R.C.G. El Prat. The Swede, who already has two victories to his name on the 2006 Schedule, produced a flawless second round of four under par 68 to move to a seven under aggregate and take a one shot lead from England’s Lee Slattery.
Scotland’s David Drysdale and Welshman Stuart Manley share third spot on five under par, with the Spanish trio of Jesus Maria Arruti , Pablo Larrazabal and Santiago Luna joining Sweden’s Fredrik Henge and England’s Sam Walker on four under after two rounds.
It looks set to be a thrilling weekend on the outskirts of Barcelona with so many quality players battling for the €19,200 top prize. Aside from Larrazabal, who is the player in the field most likely to have the best knowledge of the Real Club de Golf El Prat given that it is his home course, all of the leading players have considerable European Tour experience.
Axgren has been playing like a man obsessed with regaining his Tour card after failing to hold onto it last season. The 31 year old has already won the Kai Feiberg Costa Rica Open 2006 as well as the Tusker Kenya Open this season, and if he can score another Challenge Tour victory on the 2006 Schedule he will be immediately promoted to The European Tour for the remainder of this season and all of 2007.
That is incentive enough for any player, but Axgren knows there is a long way to go with 36 holes still to play over such a demanding course.
“I played alright today – probably better than yesterday in terms of chipping and putting,” he said. “I didn’t drop any shots today which is always good on a course like this one because it’s a really good test for us. The one thing that let me down today was my long putting. I holed a great 30 foot putt for birdie on the 12th but apart from that my distance putting let me down.
“But I am right up there and in with a chance to win again so I can’t have too many complaints. I am just looking forward to the weekend now.”
Slattery, like Axgren, is desperate to be re-instated at European golf’s top level after a disappointing 2005 season, when some poor judgements on swing changes, coupled with the extra pressure of being the 2004 Challenge Tour Number One, contributed to a disappointing rookie year at the top level.
But he has, with a new coach and change of lifestyle, managed to recapture something like the form that saw him storm the Rankings in 2004 as he crafted a second round of four under 68 to move to six under for the tournament.
“It wasn’t a great performance today but it was a good score,” said Slattery. “I was steady today. I put the ball in the right places and made a couple of good putts at the right times which always makes a difference to your round.
“I am starting to get the 2004 form back and that’s down to all the work that I have done over the past four months with Damien Taylor. Since I started working with him I have been getting more and more confidence back into my game and the results are starting to come as well.
“It should be a good weekend because the course here is a real test. It’s tricky and you have to think your way round. That is something you don’t always get on the Challenge tour, but you are tested very well here – you are in a constant battle with the course.”
