Little known Welshman Liam Bond intends making the most of a late invitation to lead by a shot on day two in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

The 33-year old bearded Bond, who is ranked No. 1,528 in the world, only found out he was in the tournament on Wednesday after receiving a call from the European Tour during a round with his 7-year-old daughter on a local course.

After a first-round 69, Bond posted five birdies but also bogeyed his last hole on day two in a round of 68 to move to 5-under 137 on the 2010 Ryder Cup host Twenty-Ten course’

“My daughter and I were rooting for balls on my home golf course just up the road from Celtic Manor when the Tour phoned me saying do you fancy playing in the Wales Open,” Bond said.

“I told (them) I would snap their hand off to play here, and the good thing is Celtic Manor’s only 10 minutes from my house.

“But it was just nice to carry on my goods work today and given it was so windy out there as there’s always a potential banana skin out there where you can drop a few shots.

“Then I am also surprised how well I have played as I haven’t had that many starts on the main European Tour.

“And the good thing is that I am only just living 10 minutes down the road so it won’t be long before I’m home and putting the slippers on and enjoying a nice cup of tea.”

Norway’s Espen Kofstad let slip his two shot first round lead with a score of 74 and 10 more than day one to be tied in second with South African Tjaart Van Der Walt (71).

Four players – Frenchman Bourdy (72), England’s Graeme Storm (67), Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (68), American Peter Uihlein (70) and Ireland’s Paul McGinley (69).

European Ryder Cup captain McGinley is looking to capture a first victory in nearly eight years.

“I played well today and found the wind a real challenge but then I enjoyed that,” said McGinley.

“Also I played well here last year but then I learned so much from watching the Ryder Cup players when we were here in 2010.”

Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee kept alive his Presidents Cup International Team qualifying holes despite shooting a 74 to make the four over par cut-off mark by a shot.

And a back injury forced Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher out after just three holes of his second round and less than a week after losing out in a play-off in the Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland.

No sooner has Gallacher withdrawn with an injured back he learned his uncle, Bernard Gallacher was in a serious condition in hospital.

Stephen later issued a statement saying:  “I understand that he is critical but stable. My family is in disarray at the moment and it is obviously a worrying situation. We are all anxious.”