Lowry fights way into contention in Turkey behind fired-up Colsaerts
SHANE LOWRY fought his way into contention at the halfway stage of the $7million (€6m) Turkish Airlines Open by shooting seven birdies in yesterday’s second round.
The Offaly man, who carded a five-under 66, lies in fourth spot and six strokes behind leader Nicolas Colsaerts who is aiming to end a five-year victory drought after claiming a fourshot lead.
Despite a bogey on the second at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort, Lowry quickly found form, recording his first birdie at the next – and soon followed with birdies at the fifth, seventh and at holes 13, 14, 16 and 17.
Pádraig Harrington failed to follow up on his opening-day 65, which left him one shot off the pace, after carding a 72 to leave tied 13th where Paul Dunne also sits after yesterday’s 70.
Colsaerts carded a second successive 64 to reach 14-under par, with England’s Eddie Pepperell his nearest challenger after back-to-back rounds of 66.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat is five shots off the pace after a 67, with Lowry, Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and the English pair of Matt Fitzpatrick and Matthew Southgate another stroke adrift on eight-under.
Colsaerts’ last European Tour title came in the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2012.
“I always feel like it’s pretty close because I feel like I’m good enough to do decent showings in big events and on regular occasions throughout the year,” Colsaerts said.
“It’s just little things that have to click together. There are a lot of guys that can win four or five times a year and don’t for a couple of years.”
Meanwhile, Seamus Power looked set to make the cut after following up his opening-day two-under par 69 with a 71 yesterday at the Shriners Open in Las Vegas.
Fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell joins him on twounder overall after carding another 70 yesterday.
Elsewhere, Dermot McElroy made a superb start to the second stage of European Tour Qualifying School with a two-under 70 at El Saler in Spain.
McElroy shot three birdies on his front nine before finishing four shots behind leader Steven Tiley. Turkish Airlines Open Live, Sky Sports Golf, 9.0am Shriners Open Live, Sky Sports Golf, 8.30pm