Scot Ewen Ferguson has moved up into business class and now well in contention for the Turkish Airlines Open title at Antalya along the Mediterranean coastline in Turkey.
After the disappointment of dropping two shots over his closing few holes on day one, Ferguson superbly bounced back to grab four birdies in a bogey-free 67 for a share of eighth place on six-under on the host Regnum Caya course.
Frenchman Martin Couvra opened up a two-shot lead thanks to a 66 and moved to 11-under as the impressive 22-year-old seeks a maiden Tour title in just his 15th main Tour event after gaining full Tour status last year via the secondary HotelPlanner Tour.
“Really happy about my game today, always good to have a bogey-free round”, said Couvra.
“It was pretty good (par save on 11), on the tee, honestly I hit a pretty nice shot, but just on the left side. And I made a very good putt, so it was a good par on that one.
“My iron game was pretty good today and I had some good moments, so yeah, my iron game and my putting was good.
“I just try to keep the same mindset on the golf course (going into the weekend) keep focusing on me every day and that’s it”.
FERGUSON @EwboF MOVES INTO BUSINESS CLASS ….
Heading to weekend rounds #TurkishAirlinesOpen after kick-staring second day’s play holing super 20-footer for
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EF
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie ) pic.twitter.com/TsM6sAx9Ql
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 9, 2025
South African Wilco Nieberg and out in the last group of the day muscled his way to a share of second through 13 holes ahead of a closing hole birdie in a 65 to be in second place on his own at nine-under.
Reigning Qatar Masters champ Haotong Li of China is next best in third place, picking-up a hatrick of birdies in his 65 to be at eight under.
Ferguson, himself also a Qatar Masters winner, was out in the morning half of the draw and with his scores of 69 and 67 his best since his opening two rounds of his first event of the New Year at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic when he was 12-under through two rounds.
Highlight of his Turkey second round was his birdie at the par-4 11th hole and that he was playing as his first on day two when he landed a 110-yard approach shot some 20-feet behind the flag and calmly rolled-in the birdie putt.
Ferguson’s effort is also a fifth tournament in succession he’s assured of weekend work in this his eighth event of the season.
Disappointingly, Ferguson was the only Scot among five to make the halfway cut.
Callum Hill (70 & 72) and Grant Forrest (73 & 69) missed the cut by a shot, Daniel Young (75 & 68) by two and Connor Syme (71 & 75) by four.
