Three Scottish golfers playing in the same Asian time zone but with one separated from the other two by some 2,300 miles find themselves in contention after two round of their respective European and PGA Tour events.
Craig Lee among three Scots in contention in Asia. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Bridge of Allan’s Craig Lee quickly realised he’d done something special when a handful of spectators began jumping up and down following his 178-yard 4-iron shot into the wind found the bottom of the cup for an eagle two on second day of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.
Lee had earlier birdied his 13th and 15th holes in continuing cold and windy conditions before his heroics at the par five at the par four 16th to join fellow Scot Scott Jamieson among six players tied in second place on four under par on the Lake Malaren course.
AmericanLuke Guthrie, competing in his first-ever regular European Tour event, continues to lead the $7m Shanghai tournament adding a one under par 71 to move four clear of his rivals at eight under par.
Further south in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur and PGA Tour regular Martin Laird added a two under par 70 to move to six under par and seven shots behind American Keegan Bradley in the CIMB Classic.
Lee is competing for a second time this season in Communist China after finishing missing the cut in the Volvo China Open.
However the Scot has returned buoyed by his best-ever Tour finish in being runner-up in the Omega European Masters and currently lying 62nd on the Race to Dubai and just two strokes shy of qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
While competing also in Dubai for a second occasion this year is very much on Lee’s agenda so too is making the most of his opportunity over the last two days in the China financial capital.
“My round was not going all that well with six holes to go but over the last five it was brilliant,” he said.
“I didn’t see my second shot at 16 go in the hole but I sort of guessed it must have been pretty good as a few people started jumping up and down.
“So to be a sharing second place is a pleasant surprise and it’s been exciting for me from day one out here as there is no halfway cut, and a guaranteed four rounds is always nice.”
Jamieson was among just eight players to break 70 in conditions more akin to wintery Scotland but he father-to-be warmed to the occasion despite going from one bunker to another down the last for bogey in a score of 68.
“I’m really pleased as I’ve managed to put myself in a good position going into the weekend,” he said.
After being top of the money list for the first few weeks of 2013 Jamieson’s currently 25th and foremost looking to qualify for next week’s $8.5m WGC – HSBC Champions event also in Shanghai.
“I need to win this week if I’m going to be staying in Shanghai for a second week but even that doesn’t happen a good result this week can determine my schedule for next season,” he added.
“So at this stage, I have to try and make up Race to Dubai ground competing next fortnight in Turkey before making the most of Dubai.”
Paul Lawrie birdied two of his closing four holes but was left ruing a 13thhole four-putt in a score of 73 for a share of 34th place at three over par.
Lawrie’s currently 61st on the money list and just one spot outside of qualifying for the year end event in Dubai.
“It’s not really playing on my mind as I just need a good week here or in Turkey because I am not qualified for the HSBC next week,” he said.
“I only need two half decent weeks and I will be flying into the top 60 – and if I am 61st at the end of it all and do not play in Dubai – I won’t have deserved to have got there.”
