Warren avoids a damp squib as Ashley rains supreme

MARC WARREN last night boosted hopes of keeping his Tour card by moving one shot off the lead in Spain – but he has played nine holes more than the man he’s out to catch.

The Scot played 19 holes of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama yesterday but still has his secondround back nine to complete after wild weather played havoc.

Yesterday dawned with a two-and- a-half hour delay to the start of play before Warren went out to post an opening two-under 69.

The 37-year-old squeezed in just nine holes of his second round, taking a share of the lead on five under only to bogey his final hole before thunder and lightning moved in.

Half of the field – including England’s Ashley Chesters who leads – are still to begin their second rounds. Warren teed off this week 144th on the Race to Dubai rankings with only the top 116 come tomorrow night guaranteed their European Tour card for next season.

The Scot, joined by France’s Gregory Bourdy on four under, said: “I’m hitting the ball as well as I have in a long time. I gave myself a lot of chances and I’m doing what you’ve got to do around here, which is hitting fairways and greens. I managed to stay patient and got the rewards with being two under for the round this afternoon.”

Stephen Gallacher was the only other Scot to start his second round.

And last night’s stoppage could not have come at a worse time with Gallo – who hit a first-round 73 – having just made back-to-back birdies to go one under through 29 holes.