STEPHEN IS CROCK OF GOLD
STEPHEN GALLACHER is standing tall at the Turkish Airlines Open at Antalya – after revealing an ankle injury nearly ruled him out.
The Scot didn’t drop a shot for a second day running in posting a six-under-par 65 to move into a share of fourth place on eight under at the Regnum Carya course.
However, Gallacher looked all set to withdraw from the £5.3million event when a freak motorised buggy accident late on Wednesday injured tendons in his right ankle.
He said: “I did it jumping out of a buggy and I had my bags packed as I was sure I wasn’t going to play.
“But Dingers (Tour physio Ian Dingwall) sorted me out. I was strapped up like you wouldn’t believe and was also taking tablets.
“I jumped out a buggy around 5pm on Wednesday to go and hit some putts and went over on my ankle.
“I woke up the next morning and it was both swollen and bruised. But Dingers strapped it. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be playing.”
Injury aside, Gallacher put himself in frame for a first Tour victory since his successful defence of the 2014 Dubai Desert Classic.
It is good timing given the Bathgate golfer arrived in Turkey 78th on the Race to Dubai and needing to be inside the top 72 if he is to contest next week’s Nedbank Challenge.
He said: “Two weeks ago I didn’t think I’d be able to go around a course like this bogey-free.
“I’m delighted to be in this position as it shows what I am doing is right.”
Nicolas Colsaerts opened up a four-shot lead after a second successive 64 moved him to 14 under.
The big-hitting Belgian’s 36-hole effort is just one shot shy of the tournament two-round low set a year ago by eventual champion Thorbjorn Olesen.
Colsaerts said: “It has to be more of the same over the weekend.”
England’s Eddie Pepperell (66) is next best at 10 under with Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (67) third on nine under.
Scots star Richie Ramsay posted a 68 to move to three-under par and a share of 27th place.
David Drysale shot a 73 to drop back to one under while Marc Warren signed off for a 70 to get back to level par.