Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez will look to honour his late parents with a hopeful fifth Tour success after moving one shot clear of the field on day two in the he Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland.
Gonzalez, 43 added a second straight seven-under par 65 to move to 14-under par on the PGA Centenary and 2014 Ryder Cup host course.
The current World No. 352nd ranked Gonzalez, who has won four times on the Tour, birdied three of his opening seven holes and then finished in resounding manner with five birdies in succession.
Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez ready to dedicate a hopeful fifth Tour success to the memory of his late parents. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
Gonzalez currently lies 109th on The Race to Dubai and knowing only the top-110 at the end of the season retain full Tour membership for 2014.
However since his last victory in 2009 Gonzalez’s parents have both passed away.
“The last two years have been very difficult personally,” he said.
“So if I win I would like to dedicate it to my mother and father, that’s my target this week.”
And helping the Argentinean secure victory is renowned Scottish caddy, Dave Renwick who has caddied for three Major Champions including Steve Elkington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Vijay Singh.
Talented Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, and touted my many observers as a future Ryder Cup star, signed for a 66 to be trailing just one stroke adrift of Gonzalez at 13-under par/
England’s Mark Foster, who is looking to win just a second Tour title and a first in a decade, shot a 67 to share third place on 11-under par with countryman Tommy Fleetwood (65).
In fifth place on 10-under par is Florida’s in-form Brooks Koepka who seeks a fourth victory this year and a second straight success in Scotland.
Koepka, 23 grabbed a second hole eagle and four birdies in a six under par 66.
Koepka is assured of full European Tour membership in 2014 after winning three times this year on the secondary Challenge Tour.
Among the West Palm Beach golfer’s wins this season was success by three shots in June’s Scottish Hydro Challenge.
The effort helped earn Koepka an invitation into last fortnight’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill and where he played the final round in the company of fellow American and 14-time Major winning Tiger Woods.
And England’s Paul Waring equaled the Centenary course record of a nine under par 63 to share 19th place on six under par.
