Craig Lee produced a sizzling four hole run to move within two strokes of the lead on day two of the BMW International Open near Cologne.
After being three over par after just three holes on Thursday, the Bridge of Allan golfer was already contemplating the weekend off before signing for a first round 69 and then a second day 65 to move to within two strokes of the lead at 10-under par on the Gut Larcenhof course.
In contrast, reigning U.S. Open Martin Kaymer spoilt a victorious return home and also ended a near two-year successful Tour run in missing the halfway cut by four strokes with scores of 71 and 73.
The German, who grew-up in nearby Dusseldorf, left near record crowds deflated he walked from the Gut Larcenhof course 12 shots from the leading foursome of England’s Danny Willett (68), Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (66) and the Spanish duo of Pablo Larrazabal (63) and Rafa Cabrera-Bello (68) who share a two shot lead on 12-undeshr par.
Craig Lee shoots a 65 to be just three behind the leading foursome in Cologne. (Photo – David Llody/www,golffile.ie)
It is the first occasion since the Portugal Masters in October 2012 and a run of 28 events Kaymer has missed the halfway cut in a European Tour stroke play event.
Lee heads to the final two days sharing fifth place with five others and with 36 players within five shots of the lead.
However it was the five shots that Lee picked up in four holes from his 10th that has put the Scot again in frame to capture a first Tour success.
Lee was two under par at the turn and then played the opening four holes of his inward nine in a sizzling five under par, and capped by a 12th hole eagle where he drilled a 244-yard 7-wood to just eight feet.
“I hit it to about a foot at the first or my 10th then holed a 20-footer at the next and rolled-in an eight footer for eagle at my 12th hole and then four feet at the next, so that was a great start to my back nine,” he said.
“I was on a real roll until the stoppage, so after the delay it was good to come back out and make two solid pars.
“So after being three over par after three holes on Thursday and thinking about what I was going to do with myself over the weekend, so I’m now thrilled to be now just two shots from the lead and very much in contention.”
Dunbar’s David Drysdale was the only other Scot to make the cut with scores of 72 and 68 while Paul Lawrie missed out by a shot in bizarre incident ahead of an 87-minute late afternoon thunderstorm delay.
Lawrie was standing over a birdie putt on the final green when an impending electrical storm siren sounded on his back swing, and after missing the putt he had to immediately mark his ball and leave the course.
But while four players elected not to return and were subsequently disqualified under new Tour rules, Lawrie changing into track shoes and returned to hole a two foot par putt in a round of 69 for a three under par tally but one shot shy of playing all four rounds.
“The siren sounded on the middle of my back stroke which was nice but these things happen,” he said.
“But then the officials only have to look around to see if you are over a shot though it didn’t matter as I missed the cut, so we’re heading home.”
