Scot Ewen Ferguson admits he’s felt being ‘constantly battered’ as he continues to eye a Dutch Open double delight heading to the weekend rounds of the championship in Cromvoirt.

The reigning Qatar Masters champ heads to day three sharing 19th place but only six-shots shy of the lead in the 102nd edition of the premier Dutch event on the host Bernardus course for a second year running.

Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia double-bogeyed the 11th but then eagled the 12th in a round of 66 to head the Dutch field at 10-under-par on a second day in bright but continuing windy conditions. China’s Haotong Li, who eagled the par-5 12th hole in a sizzling nine-under 63, is in second place at nine-under.

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson ‘constantly battered’ at this week’s 102nd Dutch Open

England’s Matt Wallace (67) and Poland’s Adrian Meronk (68) share third on eight-under.

Ferguson, 25, has now made it three lots of weekend work out of his five events since his breakthrough victory two months ago in suburban Doha.

He heads into golf’s traditional Saturday morning day sharing just inside the top-20 after signing for a level par 72 and remaining at four-under.

Aside from Ferguson’s goal to win for a second time in his rookie season, the Dutch Open is a new edition to The Open Championship global qualifying series, and with three spots into the 150th hosting of golf’s oldest major up for grabs to those otherwise not exempt into St. Andrews.

Currently all but three of the 18 ahead of the Scot on the Dutch leadboard are already assured of a St. Andrews tee time.

Ferguson’s second round of three birdies but also a sixth hole double-bogey and a superb bogey, if there is such a thing, down the last when first sending his tee shot into water running down the right side of the hole. He then sent his third into the same body of water but then put his fifth shot onto the green, and holed a 20-footer for a bogey ‘6’.

He said: “I played some really good stuff though the strange thing was when I warmed up on the range, I didn’t really feel up for it but I somehow picked myself up out there on the course, while my caddy was really helpful.

“With the winds we’ve had out there these two rounds, I just feel like we’re being constantly battered, and with some holes in the practice rounds playing driver and 9-iron are now played driver and 4-iron.

“What was really helpful was holing that 40-footer for birdie at my second hole, and that really settled me down.

“So, I’m a few back and if I can make a move early on, then who knows how close I’ll be going into Sunday”.

Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher dropped a shot at his last in a 73 to be at three-under with Richie Ramsay posting a pair of 71s, is at two under after seizing six birdies but also a bogey and two doubles

Ramsay said: “It was a real roller-coaster round and as long as it stays firm and fast over the weekend, then that should suit me.

“The good thing is I am out early in the morning, with fresh greens and hopefully it is not too windy and I can climb up the board”.

Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest guaranteed himself a sixth payday in 11 events this season with scores of 70 and 73 to be at one-under.

Scott Jamieson birdied the last in 70 to make the cut right on the level par mark.

Ewen Ferguson admits he’s felt being ‘constantly battered’ as he continues to eye a Dutch Open double delight heading to the weekend rounds of the championship in Cromvoirt.

The reigning Qatar Masters champ heads to day three sharing 19th place but only six-shots shy of the lead in the 102nd edition of the premier Dutch event on the host Bernardus course for a second year running.

Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia double-bogeyed the 11th but then eagled the 12th in a round of 66 to head the Dutch field at 10-under-par on a second day in bright but continuing windy conditions. China’s Haotong Li, who eagled the par-5 12th hole in a sizzling nine-under 63, is in second place at nine-under.

England’s Matt Wallace (67) and Poland’s Adrian Meronk (68) share third on eight-under.

Ferguson, 25, has now made it three lots of weekend work out of his five events since his breakthrough victory two months ago in suburban Doha.

He heads into golf’s traditional Saturday morning day sharing just inside the top-20 after signing for a level par 72 and remaining at four-under.

Aside from Ferguson’s goal to win for a second time in his rookie season, the Dutch Open is a new edition to The Open Championship global qualifying series, and with three spots into the 150th hosting of golf’s oldest major up for grabs to those otherwise not exempt into St. Andrews.

Currently all but three of the 18 ahead of the Scot on the Dutch leadboard are already assured of a St. Andrews tee time.

Ferguson’s second round of three birdies but also a sixth hole double-bogey and a superb bogey, if there is such a thing, down the last when first sending his tee shot into water running down the right side of the hole. He then sent his third into the same body of water but then put his fifth shot onto the green, and holed a 20-footer for a bogey ‘6’.

He said: “I played some really good stuff though the strange thing was when I warmed up on the range, I didn’t really feel up for it but I somehow picked myself up out there on the course, while my caddy was really helpful.

“With the winds we’ve had out there these two rounds, I just feel like we’re being constantly battered, and with some holes in the practice rounds playing driver and 9-iron are now played driver and 4-iron.

“What was really helpful was holing that 40-footer for birdie at my second hole, and that really settled me down.

“So, I’m a few back and if I can make a move early on, then who knows how close I’ll be going into Sunday”.

Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher dropped a shot at his last in a 73 to be at three-under with Richie Ramsay posting a pair of 71s, is at two under after seizing six birdies but also a bogey and two doubles

Ramsay said: “It was a real roller-coaster round and as long as it stays firm and fast over the weekend, then that should suit me.

“The good thing is I am out early in the morning, with fresh greens and hopefully it is not too windy and I can climb up the board”.

Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest guaranteed himself a sixth payday in 11 events this season with scores of 70 and 73 to be at one-under.

Scott Jamieson birdied the last in 70 to make the cut right on the level par mark.

Joining his Tartan colleagues over the last two days is Aberdonian David Law, who also eagled the 12th but posted six bogeys in a 76 to be also at level.

Missing the Dutch Open cut was Fifer Connor Syme with scores of 72 and 73 along with Peebles Craig Howie (72 & 75) at three-over and David Drysdale (76 & 75)

And Marc Warren tailed-out the Dutch field with a pair of 80s.

Joining his Tartan colleagues over the last two days is Aberdonian David Law, who also eagled the 12th but posted six bogeys in a 76 to be also at level.

Missing the Dutch Open cut was Fifer Connor Syme with scores of 72 and 73 along with Peebles Craig Howie (72 & 75) at three-over and David Drysdale (76 & 75)

And Marc Warren tailed-out the Dutch field with a pair of 80s.