Antalya, Turkey …
Three days after the scare of being close to withdrawing and Stephen Gallacher has muscled his way into contention heading to the weekend rounds of the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
Gallacher brilliantly didn’t drop a shot for a second day running in posting a six-under par 65 to move into a share of fourth place at eight-under par in continuing ideal scoring conditions on the Regnum Carya course.
Belgium’s big-hitting Nicolas Colsaerts opened-up a four-shot leading cushion thanks to a second straight seven-under par 64 and move to 14-under.
Colsaert’s 36-hole effort is just one shot shy of the tournament opening two round low set a year ago by eventual champion, Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark.
Stephen Gallacher reveals injury scare on the eve of the 2017 Turkish Airlines Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The Brussels-born Colsaerts is looking to capture a third Tour title and a first in over five-years but is also conscious of the chasing pack.
“If I’m capable of going 14- under in two rounds, then somebody else or a few other guys are capable of doing the same,” he said.
“So, I guess it has to be more of the same over the weekend”.
England’s Eddie Pepperell (66) is next best at 10-under and with Thailand’s in-form Kiradech Aphibarnrat (67) third at nine-under while Gallacher finds himself among four at eight-under par.
However, Gallacher looked all set to withdraw from the $US 7m event following a freak motorised buggy accident late on Wednesday injuring tendons in his right ankle.
“I did it jumping out of a buggy and, in fact, I had my bags packed on Thursday morning as I was sure I wasn’t going to play,” he said.
“But Dingers (Tour physio, Ian Dingwall) sorted me out but then I’m strapped up like you wouldn’t believe and also taking tablets.
“I jumped out of a buggy around 5pm on Wednesday to go and hit some putts and went over on my ankle.
“I woke up the next morning and it was both swollen and bruised. But Dingers strapped it. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be playing.
“It’s a bad sprain with the tendons a bit inflammed and bruised. When you get old, you get all sorts of things happening to you.”
Injury aside, Gallacher’s put himself in frame for a first Tour victory since his successful defence of the 2014 Dubai Desert Classic and very timely given the Bathgate golfer arrived in Turkey 78th on the Race to Dubai and needing to be nside the top-72 if he is contest next week’s season-penultimate Nedbank Challenge.
“Two weeks ago I definitely didn’t think I’d be able to go around a course like this bogey-free,” he said.
“All you have to do in this game really is make your bad shots better as your good ones are as good as anyone else.
“We are only at halfway and a lot can still happen over the next 36 holes but it has given me a lot of encouragement that I have done the right thing.
“It is only small steps but I am playing well enough that I will be sticking with it under the pressure of being in the mix at the weekend.
“I’m delighted to be in this position as it shows that what I am doing is right. It gives you confidence. There are four or five really tough holes out here and it’s playing those holes better that makes your score.”
Richie Ramsay posted a 68 to move to three-under par and a share of 27th place but with the Edinburgh-based Scot leaving the course somewhat short-changed.
“It was a walk in the park today but that’s the worst I could’ve scored,” he said.
“I three-putted the last and there was a sense of déjà vu as I was grazing the edges with my putts and it’s just that common curse of Scottish golfers.
“The longest putt I holed all day was from 13 feet. I’m rolling them nicely but it’s small margins and it’s frustrating seeing guys shoot six or seven under and I should be doing that too.
“If you have one really good season of chipping and putting on the tour, you can double your money.”
David Drysale shot a 73 to drop back to one-under while Marc Warren signed for a 70 to get back to level par and Scott Jamieson is at five-over following his second day 74.
