Richie Ramsay stayed in sight of securing not only a fourth European Tour triumph but also ending what would be a near 20-year Scottish victory drought in the premier French event despite dropping to fourth place heading to the weekend rounds of the French Open in Versailles.
Ramsay, and after an indifferent double-bogey start and then ending with a closing hole bogey, posted a two-under par 69 and move to seven-under par on last year’s victorious European Ryder Cup host venue.
Belgium’s big-hitting Nicolas Colsaerts reeled-off seven birdies in a five-under par 66 to move to the top of the board at nine-under par before being joined by South African George Coetzee in signing for a 68.
Richie Ramsay remains in contention to become the first Scot in just on 20-years to win a French Open title – Photo – European Tour/Getty)
Colsaerts, 36 is not only looking to end a seven-year winless run in capturing just a third Tour title but the former Ryder Cup star is lying 114th on the Race to Dubai and only one place inside retaining full Tour membership.
He said: “I feel very good how I played today as the conditions were hard when we started out with the front nine playing pretty difficult.
“It sorted calmed down a little bit on the back nine and I managed to hole a few long putts early that kind of momentum into the rest of the back nine.
“So, I am pretty happy with the way I have handled my first two rounds.”
American Kurt Kitayama remains in third place in signing for a 68 and an eight-under par total.
Ramsay, and rugged-up wearing all black in the overcast and chilly conditions, managed to regain his opening hole lost shots with birdies and two and three but he gave back both shots with bogeys on four and five.
The three-time Tour winner, and seeking also to become the first Scot to win the prestigious French Open title since Colin Montgomerie in 2000, then steadied with birdies on six, eight and nine ahead of back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15.
Then in playing the last, and needed a birdie to tie the lead, the Scot found the water guarding the green with his second shot in posting a bogey ‘5’.
Ramsay said: “It wasn’t easy out there today. Any time you shoot under par around Le Golf National, it’s a pretty good day’s work. It’s one of those days where everybody is going to make mistakes and you need to minimise those and hopefully take advantage of the good shots you hit in there.
“Disappointed to finish with a bogey but overall really happy because it was a tough start. Really proud to bounce back well and obviously 69 is a good score considering the way I started.”
Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher, and after also dropping two shots early in his round, signed for a one-over par 72 to be just outside the top-30 at level par.
Glaswegain Marc Warren ensured himself just a sixth pay cheque in a wretched 20 event season with scores of 71 and 72 for a one-over par 143 total.
And Dumfries Liam Johnston was left lamenting a ninth hole double-bogey and then taking a ‘9’ at his 16th hole in a round of 76 to just make the cut on the two-over par mark.
