Wallace turns on the style in Ryder audition
MATT Wallace put on an impressive show in f ront of Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington as he shot to the top of the Scottish Championship leaderboard with a terrific five-under 67 yesterday.
Four-time European Tour winner Wallace is aiming to build on his recent good form and play his way into Team Europe next year, and he took full advantage of playing alongside the Irishman who will lead the way in the rearranged contest at Whistling Straits.
The 30-year- old Englishman made the most of favourable morning conditions to fire six birdies and just one bogey to share the lead on 12-under par with Spaniard Adrian Otaegui at Fairmont St Andrews.
Harrington wasn’t so bad himself, either, carding a 69 to leave him in a tie for fifth.
‘It’s good that I’ve done that in front of Padraig, but I’m not sure it’ll make much difference to him,’ admitted world No 51 Wallace, who opened with a 65 in the first round.
‘He will want players to be in there on merit and then if it comes down to a pick, he will want someone that’s in form.
‘I’m taking in some good form from the last few weeks without posting any numbers, so hopefully I can do that this week.
‘Yesterday was obviously a really nice start to get you i nto a tournament and then I kind of slowed down a little bit. Today was kind of the opposite. It was kind of a slow start, slowish start, but steady and then I picked up on the back nine.’
First- round l eader Otaegui followed up his opening 62 with a 70, while recent Scottish Open winner Aaron Rai is one shot back after a round of 67 that included two eagles in his first six holes.
On his eagle at the first hole, Englishman Rai said: ‘ I was actually trying to play it a couple of yards right and pulled it a little bit but it was a good shot and you’d take that any day.
‘ It’s tricky to try and settle yourself in between that shot and walking to the next because you do have quite a lot of time to think about it. But I felt quite settled after that.
‘I’m trying to focus on myself as much as possible and continue to do exactly what I’ve been doing over the last few months. If I do that, I’ll give myself chances to keep getting better and progressing.’
France’s Adrien Saddier is in fourth on 10-under par after he also shot 67.
Leading Scot Marc Warren is four shots off the lead after a second-round 69 which included five birdies, including three in a row at the 7th, 8th and 9th.
Lee Westwood carded a 70 and is among a cluster of players a shot behind Warren.
Best of the rest of the Scots is Craig Howie, who shot a 68 to lie six under, while Ewen Ferguson is a shot further back.
Among those who missed the cut were home favourites Stephen Gallacher, Liam Johnston, Ross Cameron, Grant Forrest and Euan Walker.