The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Masterful show by Scots
Scots Marc Warren, Richie Ramsay and Paul Lawrie combined to send the Saltire flag high up the mast in Portugal yesterday
Warren kept the Portugal Masters second-round lead adding a 65 to his opening 63 before being joined on 14-under-par 128 very late in the day by England’s and defending champion Andy Sullivan.
Sullivan, with close to 75 ‘Sulli’s Army’ supporters cheering him on, was in sizzling form posting a bogey-free 10-under 61 in ideal scoring conditions on the Oceanico Victoria course at Vilamoura.
Sullivan matched Ramsay’s earlier 61 with the Scot grabbing 11 birdies, including five in succession near the start of his round, in a career-best score, and with the duo just a shot shy of Scott Jamieson’s 2013 course record low.
Tied with Ramsay, in 11th place but only four off the lead, is fellow Aberdonian Lawrie, who grabbed seven birdies and dropped just two shots, in a second straight 66.
Jamieson is just a shot back from Ramsay and Lawrie after the Glaswegian’s second-day 64.
Biggest disappointment was Stirling’s Craig Lee, who bogeyed the last in a fighting 66 for a three-under tally but falling short by one shot of making the cut and also holding on to his card for 2017.
Lee teed up in Portugal lying 109th on the Race to Dubai and just two places inside the dreaded 111th cut-off mark, but now will find himself ending the season around 114th on the money list.
Warren continues to impress after finishing fifth in the recent Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Ramsay’s round was his best since a similar 61 in the 2014 European Masters. He dedicated his effort to seven-month old daughter, Olivia
“This round came out of nowhere as my game has been in a little bit of a downturn of late. That was for my daughter as she’s my smallest supporter but also one of my biggest,” said Ramsay. “She needed something to shout about as dad hasn’t been playing all that well of late, so it was great round.
“I had a little thought of maybe getting to 59 but any time you shoot 10-under it has to be a great day.”
Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher, and 128th on the money list, kept alive hopes of breaking into the top111 adding a 68 to his opening 67 to be at seven under par.