Scotland’s Craig Forrest continues to upstage many of Europe’s golfing big guns moving to just four shots from the front heading the weekend rounds of the BMW PGA at Wentworth.
Forrest, 27 added a second round 67 to his opening 69 and moved to eight-under par on his debut in the Tour’s £Stg 6m flagship event.
The Craigielaw golfer grabbed six birdies and dropped just one shot on the famed ‘Burma Road’ course to end the day sharing sixth place.
Reigning Open champ, Shane Lowry continues to produce his best form since winning some 15 months ago at Royal Portrush in posting a day two seven-under par 65 and sharing the lead at 12-under par.
England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick looked on target to at least match the West Course record in being nine-under par with a hole to play but double-bogeyed his closing hole, and also in a round of 65 to be tied at the top with Lowry.
Scotland’s Grant Forrest sharing sixth place with two rounds to play on debut at the BMW PGA
Lowry’s second round score was just one shot shy of his lowest ‘Burma Road’ round of 64 he posted o day one of the 2014 event and then going on to finish runner-up to Rory McIlroy.
And Lowry was singling out a putter lying about the house as a key to his good form.
He said: “On Monday, I saw this putter sitting there and I put it down and had a look and was like, well, I’ll bring it for the spin.
“It needed a new grip, anyway. So, I went to play nine holes with my coach on Monday evening at The K Club and putted quite nicely, and I was pretty happy, so brought it, got a new grip on it and decided to use it.
“I’ve used it for years. I always used a 2-Ball. It’s definitely worked so far.”
Forrest is contesting a 55th Tour event since a then 19-year old teed-up in the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
He’s had just four top-10s with a best finish of T4th last December in the co-sanctioned Mauritius Open.
The World No. 394th’s biggest pay-cheque was 15-months ago when Forrest pocketed £Stg 86,400 for his 14th place result at the Irish Open.
Forrest has total Tour career earnings of close to £STG 621,000 while a Wentworth win would deliver the Scot a whopping £STG 887,000 first prize pay day.
Forrest started his round from the ninth and quickly muscled his way to near the top with a hat-trick of birdies from his second hole before picking-up back to back birdies at his sixth and seven holes.
For a second day running, he birdied the par-5 17th or the ninth hole of his round but then found the water guarding the green at the next in dropping a shot to be back to five under for the day.
He then posted eight closing pars over the first to the eighth holes as they appear on the scorecard.
He said: “I’m really pleased given, as I said, this is my first time playing this golf course though it does live up to its reputation.
“The course is playing long and soft but it’s in excellent condition.
“It’s all about just hitting quality golf shots. You just have to hit good shots. We’ve had quite a lot of wind, as well, the first day and a half. Just really be in control of the ball.
“Given my place in the field, I’m really excited about the weekend. My experiences on the Challenge Tour help prepare you when you do get into contention out here on the main tour.
“Though in saying that all of events are a lot stronger fields and now that I’ve put myself in position, I’m looking forward to the weekend
“I’m just going to the range, hit a few balls now. I just lost my rhythm a little bit coming in there, but yeah, all in all, pretty happy.”
Top-ranked Scot Robert MacIntyre jumped some 40 spots up into a share of 30th place thanks to a 68 for a three-under par total.
Also through to the weekend was Richie Ramsay with a pair of 71s for two under along with Stphen Gallacher with scores of 72 and 71 at one-under.
Missing the one-over cut were: David Law (72,73-145), Marc Warren (74,74 – 148), Scott Jamieson (75,73 -148), David Drysdale (74,76 – 150)
