Scot Richie Ramsay knows he need a low ‘moving day’ third round if he to get himself into contention at the English Championship north of London.
Ramsay finds himself the joint-leading Scot after two Tartan golfing colleagues in Connor Syme and David Drysdale failed to build on their super opening rounds on the host Hanbury Manor course.
The triple Tour winning Ramsay posted a bogey-free three-under par 68 to move to eight under par and tied with Syne and with the pair six adrift of England’s Andy Sullivan who added a blistering second round 62 and move a shot clear of the field at 14-under par.
Richie Ramsay read to jump into the overtaking lane on ‘moving day’ at the English Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Sullivan, 33 was one-under for his round after eight holes and playing the last 10 holes in eight-under, and with a string of five birdies in row from the 12th hole.
Sullivan has three wins of the European Tour and each in 2015.
He said: “It was very satisfying. I’m really happy with my day’s work.
“Yesterday and today were both slow on the front nine and didn’t get into my flow with the swing and wasn’t moving it the way I wanted to. Then on the back nine I freed up a little bit and got the putter going. I holed a lot of nice putts out there.
“I got a little bit of luck here and there as well, which when you shoot a low round it tends to go that way.”
Ramsay, 37 also is seeking a fourth Tour victory and like Sullivan his last win also was in 2015 in capturing the Hassan 11 Trophy in Morocco.
He said: “It’s good to be moving in the right direction with my swing feeling really good and while I missed a few putts out there, I am in a really good position.
“I did miss a few putts out there but I’m in a really good position heading to the weekend. I’m sure there is a real low number in my bag and if I can just keep doing what I am doing I know I get to that number
“For everyone out here it’s about the back nine Sunday, so if I can get right into the mix tomorrow then I can really enjoy going for it.”
Syme, who was just two shots off the lead on day one, added a 69 to tied with Ramsay on eight-under par.
Borders David Drysdale (70) was a shot further back at seven-under par to end a run of two missed cuts since the return to competition, and including last week’s 500th tournament.
And Austrian Open winner Marc Warren also ended two weekends off since his win near Vienna with a pair of 68s to be at six-under.
