Stephen Gallacher quickly brushed off taking a double bogey at the last to remain seven shots from the lead in the French Open at the National course near Versailles.
Gallacher had raced to three under for his round after just four holes but then played his closing seven holes in five over including dunking his tee shot into the drink down the 18th in a score of 73.
Stephen Gallacher not fazed in doubling the last on day two of the French Open (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
It sent the Scot back into a seven-way share in fourth place and tied along with the likes of fellow Scot Scott Jamieson at three under par and trailing behind visting American Kevin Stadler.
Stadler, winner of this year’s PGA Tour Waste Management Open, also made a mess of the last and spoiled his 4th July Independence Day celebration in similarly ending with a double bogey in a score of a 68 to finish on 10-under par and three clear of Frenchman Victor Riu.
Stadler said: “It’s nice to see the U.S. flag up there on top of the board but there’s no plans to do anything special later today. No Budweiser’s or anything like. Just get ready for tomorrow’s round.”
Galllacher was headed straight to the practice putting green for a 10-minute session before rushing back to his hotel to catch TV coverage of the France-v-Germany World Cup showdown.
He said: “I just lost my rhythm a bit on the back nine and that’s why I went straight the practice putting green as I missed a lot of putts on that back nine.
“But if that is my worst round and to be sharing fifth then that’s not too bad.
“If I can get off to a similar start tomorrow and keep it going then I’m right back into this tournament.”
Jamieson is on target to lift Scotland’s Open Championship contingent to eight after adding a round of 70 and on his favourite golf course all season.
Jamieson arrived in the French capital having missed out on qualifying for The Open in Tuesday’s qualifier at Glasgow Gailes.
However after falling short by two strokes in making the play-off the Glaswegian is well in frame to pick up one of the three Royal Liverpool places available this week in Versailles.
He said: “It was another steady day’s play where I hit a lot of fairways but while I felt there was plenty of opportunities to go lower it was another under par round.
“And there’s still plenty of gas in the tank for the weekend as I would not have gone to Tuesday’s qualifier if I didn’t think I could play all four rounds here in France.
“Besides this is my favourite golf course of the year because is so very demanding and every part of your game has to be on, particularly off the tee.
“Then there’s the spectacular finish where it’s pretty cut-throat stuff so that’s why I like the course so much.”
And of big importance to Jamieson is that it is only the eighth four-rounder he will play this season having missed the cut in his other eight events including the past two weeks.
