Former Open champ Lawrie has Fowler firmly in his sights
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie is just two shots back of Aussie leader, Peter Fowler, heading into today’s final round of the Scottish Senior Open at Craigielaw.
Fowler fired an impressive five-under-par second round of 66 yesterday to card the low round of the week and end day two at the top of the leaderboard on four-underpar, two ahead of home favourite Paul Lawrie.
After starting his opening round with a triple-bogey seven at the first hole, Fowler began his second round on the 10th tee and made bogey, but bounced back at the next hole with his first birdie of the day.
With the wind testing the players’ club selection and yardage, the six-time Staysure Tour winner carded seven-consecutive pars to reach the turn at level-par for the day, before beginning his assault on the front nine – his back.
Back-to-back birdies ahead of a dropped shot and two further gains ensured he soared up the leaderboard. With day two’s early leaders struggling in the conditions and falling away, Fowler picked up birdies on his closing two holes to card a back nine of 30 and set the clubhouse target at four-under.
“I’m really happy with that round,” said Fowler. “It’s not a long golf course but it’s treacherous on the greens with wind we had today, so I’m really happy with that score.”
Former Open Champion Lawrie, who was finishing later in the afternoon, could not reach the Australian’s target, as he added a one-over-par round of 72 to his opening round of 68.
The Scot sits one stroke ahead of 2016 Scottish Senior Open winner Paul Eales, following his one-under-par round of 70, who is joined on that mark by Markus Brier of Austria.