The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Major talents stay on fringe
European Tour: Lawrie charges up leaderboard after outstanding round
Major champions Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson will head into the weekend just a shot off the lead at the BMW International Open in Munich.
Spaniard Garcia is making his first appearance in Europe since his maiden major triumph at the US Masters in April while Stenson is seeking to defend the title he won by three shots in Cologne last season.
The Ryder Cup duo got to eight under in windy conditions yesterday but that was not good enough to keep pace with Frenchman Joel Stalter and Swede Joakim Lagergren, who led the way after two rounds.
Lagergren had set the target in the morning with an impressive 66 and Stalter was the only one of the later starters who could catch him as he posted a 68.
Garcia had held a share of the lead at the turn after a hat-trick of birdies from the seventh, but dropped shots on the 14th and 17th stalled his momentum before he carded a closing birdie in a round of 70.
Swede Stenson went one better with a 69 that contained birdies on the 11th, 18th, first and eighth and a single blemish on the 13th.
“Made a couple of birdies when I had the chances”
“I’m not on top of my game by any means but I think it was a good kind of professional display,” said Stenson.
“I kept it pretty tidy and made a couple of birdies when I had the chances and didn’t drop too many. I don’t have to be ashamed of three under around here.”
England’s Richard Bland was also at eight under after a 69 alongside Belgian Thomas Detry and Swede Rikard Karlberg.
“I’m in a good position,” said Bland. “I’ve got 36 holes left and hopefully if I can just try to keep improving, I might be in there come Sunday.”
Matthew Southgate was then in the group at seven under, a shot clear of inform fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.
Aberdeen’s Paul Lawrie moved 87 places up the leaderboard with an outstanding second-round 67 which left him in a share of 23rd place on four under.
Press and Journal columnist Stephen Gallacher missed the cut by a stroke on one over after two rounds while Grantown’s Duncan Stewart had a second-round 83 to follow his opening 70 to fall out of the tournament.