The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bogey-free round sees Stephen Gallacher lead the way in Middle East
Scot in ‘good spot’ after bogey-free 67
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher claimed a share of the halfway lead in the Oman Open as he seeks a third European Tour victory in the Middle East.
Gallacher, who won back-to-back Dubai Desert Classic titles in 2013 and 2014, carded a bogey-free 67 at Al Mouj Golf Club to join Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard on top of the leaderboard on nine under.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts and Finland’s Kalle Samooja are a shot off the lead, with English duo Robert Rock and Richard McEvoy part of a five-strong group two strokes further back on six under.
Ryder Cup player Gallacher said: “It’s a good spot to be but there’s still a lot of golf to be played. My aim will be to do the same things I’ve been doing.
“It’s supposed to get windy at the weekend and I’ll go and relax now and try to save my energy for that.”
Although Gallacher claimed his first victory for five years in last season’s Indian Open, he missed 16 cuts in 22 events and started 2020 with two more before a closing 66 in the Saudi International gave him a tie for 21st.
Gallacher added: “I had been struggling a bit and changed some things. I worked on things before going to Saudi, started to hit some good shots there and it’s amazing how things snowball.
“You start to chip better, putt better and start to compete. By Sunday, you just want to have a chance to win coming down the stretch.”
Colsaerts, who returned to the winner’s circle last year for the first time since 2012, matched Gallacher’s 67 with seven birdies and two bogeys. He said: “I was a little bit in the zone.
“I had what we called the ‘good eyes’ today, there was not really any shot that really frightened me even though there’s a couple that are pretty difficult with this wind.”
Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli, who was reinstated in the field after testing negative for the coronavirus on Wednesday, is four shots off the lead after adding a 70 to his opening 69.
Former world No 1 Martin Kaymer is three strokes further back after an eventful 69, which included a hole-inone on the 13th, a double-bogey on 15 and three closing birdies.
Gallacher was one of four Scots to make the cut with Calum Hill (-3), Drumoig’s Connor Syme and Grant Forrest (both -1) also making the weekend field but Aberdonians Richie Ramsay, Paul Lawrie (both +2) and David Law (+8) missed out.