GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR:SCOTLAND'S RICHIE Ramsay dug deep to preserve a two-stroke advantage going into the closing 36 holes of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama.
But the 28-year-old from Aberdeen may well have to fight off the challenge of back-to-form Sergio Garcia if he is to land his second European Tour title.
Having started with a brilliant 65, Ramsay is now five under par after a two-birdie, three-bogey 72.
Driving into the rough cost him a shot on the 454-yard 18th, but France’s Gregory Havret – runner-up to Graeme McDowell in last year’s US Open – bogeyed the hole too to reach halfway on three under.
Garcia, winner of his home Castello Masters by a stunning 12-stroke margin last Sunday, is one further back after a second successive 70 on a layout where he has been a runner-up three times.
“Going up against one of your idols on a course, this is a dream situation,” said Ramsay.
“It was a really tough day and I hung in there. It just illustrates how good my six-under round was.
“I hit so many fairways and so many greens, but couldn’t get the ball to drop. But my ball-striking was good and I’ve got to take the positives out of it.”
Ramsay bogeyed the third and sixth, the two short holes on the outward half, but birdied the eighth and 11th.
Havret had a seven on his card for the second day running. After double-bogeying the long fourth in his opening 68 he lost his drive at the 547-yard 11th.
Birdies at the next two repaired the damage and after his 71 he commented: “This course does not accept any errors. Every hole is a real challenge and you have to focus on every shot.”
Garcia needs to win again to qualify for next week’s world championship in Shanghai.
“I could have been a little bit more aggressive with a couple of putts coming in, but my short game is pretty good right now,” he said. “It was difficult to hit fairways and to choose the right club. Thank God it’s soft because, if not, this would be hell.
“But I’ve always enjoyed hard courses. Back-to-back wins would be a great thing, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
“Valderrama can catch you any time – you can never think that you have this course under control. Even without wind it’s asking you to hit all the shots in the bag. . . . A course doesn’t need to be long to be tough.”
Ireland’s Shane Lowry is in a tie for sixth place along with Peter Lawrie (73). Graham McDowell is four over following a second consecutive 73. The cut fell at 149 and Damien McGrane missed out by two after his 72 yesterday, as did Gareth Maybin (76). Paul Cutler was 11 over following a 77, while Paul McGinley withdrew.
