Richie Ramsay recalled as a 12-year old he would keep warm as he hit golf balls on his beloved Royal Aberdeen practice range by running up and down the range collecting them.
A decade on and Ramsay is warming to thoughts of a second Tour victory this season despite the continuing cold and wet Irish Open conditions on Royal County Down in Newcastle.
Ramsay carded the second equal lowest score on day two with five birdies in a four under par 67 to among six players tied for the lead.
Richie Ramsay now has a good look at a first Irish Open victory.
They include – Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger (71 & 68), Dane Soren Kjeldsen (69 & 70), England’s Chris Wood (70 & 69), South African Tyrrell Hatton (73 & 66) and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (71 & 68).
Hatton equalled a 76-year old Royal County Down course record with his score of 66 and first set by the late, great Irish golfer Jimmy Bruen.
Cabrera-Bello is the only player over the 36-holes to record a bogey-free round of day two 69.
Unlike many in the field, Ramsay is no stranger to Royal County Down joining the then 2007 GB & I Walker Cup squad to play the course, but eventually failing to win selection.
“I turned pro just before the Walker Cup but then I don’t remember the course that well when I first came here in ’07, and besides I am far better player and a lot mature golfer from eight years ago,” he said.
That was borne out when Ramsay was quizzed that while so many struggled, including Gleneagles Ryder Cup heroes Sergio Garcia and Victor Dubuisson missing the cut with respective 12-over and 15-over par totals, Ramsey seemed to be enjoying himself.
“This week reminds me so much when I was about 12 years old as I would run back and forward on the range at Royal Aberdeen just to try and keep my hands warm, and also to keep my heart rate going,” he said.
“So the way I look at it, you have two options here this week.
“You can moaning about it like I don’t want to be here or you can embrace it and say to yourself ‘it’s going to be a challenge out there’.
Ramsay, also like the majority of the field, rated the first two days as the toughness he’s faced all season.
“These two days are right up there as the toughest with the wind and the run-off areas around the greens the hardest,” he said. 
“With the wind, the ball is not travelling as far as it’s cold while you have to deal with the cross winds and then add the severe run-off areas and it’s just so hard to get your golf ball to hold the greens.
“Here is a lot different compared to Royal Aberdeen as it more downwind and back into the wind back home and much like playing the first three holes at St. Andrews where the wind is off the left going out and off the right coming back in.
“But then coming here to Ireland, I’ve always tended to do well in Ireland for some reason. I think it’s got to do with there’s a lot of support for the golfers. Ireland is also full of fantastic golf courses.
“You put those ingredients in and only good things can come from it.”
In fact, this is Ramsay’s sixth Irish Open appearance with his best finish being T9th in 2010 at Killarney.
Ramsay mentioned St. Andrews and he’s now put himself in strong position to also secure one of the three spots available this week into the July 16th commencing Open Championship.
“If I can stay strong mentally and take a good attitude into the next two days, and my short game remains good then aspects like winning for a second time this season and qualifying for my first Open Championship at St. Andrews will come together,” he said.
“I felt as though I’ve being mentally strong for two rounds so it’s just a matter of keeping it all together and whether or not I can win and secure a place into The Open all depends on the weather.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re out it the morning or the afternoon al it can change dramatically.”
The top-ranked Scotland pair of Stephen Gallacher (75 & 73) and Marc Warren (75 & 76) were headed straight for Belfast Airport missing the cut with respective 36-hole totals of six and nine over par.
