A number of former Ryder Cup players made their presence felt on day two of the Scandinavian Senior Open in Denmark, with Spain’s José Rivero climbing to the top of the leaderboard closely followed by Ireland’s Eamonn Darcy.
Rivero, who is chasing his third title on the 2006 European Seniors Tour, made the most of near perfect scoring conditions with an eight under par 63 to storm into the lead at Helsingør Golf Club on 11 under par 131.
Rivero notched ten birdies, offset by two bogeys, and at one stage was seven under par for ten holes. “It was fantastic golf – everything worked well today and I created a couple of good eagle chances that I just missed,” commented the Spaniard, winner of the DGM Barbados Open and FIRSTPLUS Wales Seniors Open already this year.
A stroke behind on ten under par is Darcy, a team-mate of Rivero’s in the European side that won The 1987 Ryder Cup at Muirfield Village. The Irishman, who is looking for his maiden win as a senior after six runner-up finishes, had eight birdies and a bogey in his score of 64.
“Putting has been the weakest part of my game and if you don’t putt well, you won’t win anywhere in the world,” commented Darcy. “I have played really solid for the last two rounds but the difference with my 64 compared to yesterday’s 68 was simply holing a few putts.”
He discovered his touch around the greens from the outset, single-putting for birdie at the first and likewise at the fourth and seventh in an outward half of 32.
At the 12th, the Irishman knocked a nine iron to ten foot and holed out for birdie. He sank a putt of similar distance at the 13th and from six foot at the 14th, before hitting a three wood into the trees and dropping a shot at the 15th. The mistake did not prove too costly as a hole later Darcy made birdie to complete matching halves of 32.
He said: “I’m right in the shake-up for tomorrow’s final round and if I can manage to putt well again, then I will have a chance, but I can’t be sure what to expect.”
Like Darcy, New Zealander Simon Owen wielded his blade with renewed authority to cut a path up the leaderboard.
Owen was round in a bogey-free 65, six under par, for a share of third place. Alongside him on nine under par 133 is Japan’s Katsuyoshi Tomori, the overnight co-leader, who dropped a shot at the last to sign for a 67.
After a recent dip in results, Owen was delighted with his day’s work and has now played 35 holes without a bogey, having taken six at the first hole in his opening round.
“Funnily enough, that double bogey may have been a blessing in disguise as it made me get my head down,” admitted Owen.
“Today I started with two birdies and that got me really in the zone. For me, everything revolves around the putter. If that behaves, which it did today, then I can score low.”
Gordon J Brand, another former Ryder Cup player, was going well before a bogey at the beautiful but treacherous ninth hole – his last – saw the Englishman sign for a 69 that dropped him into a share of fifth place.
Keeping Brand company on six under par were Giuseppe Cali of Italy (67), Luis Carbonetti of Argentina (68) and Stewart Ginn of Australia (69).
