The big buzz in the UK today is Scotland’s decision to remain in the UK. The country that last left the protection of the crown, Ireland, saw its own Shane Lowry take a 1-stroke lead at the Wales Open.
Lowry’s 6-under 65 was the second-best round of the day, and enough to move him one stroke ahead o Day 1 leader Joost Luiten and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts.
Lowry, who fired a 68 on Thursday, played a bogey-free round on Friday with three birdies on the front nine and three more on the back, to get to 9-under.
Luiten followed up his Thursday 65 with a 2-under 69, coming alive on the back nine with three birdies after hitting the turn at 1 over.
Colsaerts remained in the same spot he was yesterday with an up-and-down round. He had three birdies in the first seven holes, then started the back nine by bogeying 10 and 11 back to back. He closed his round with an eagle on No. 18 for the second straight day to get back to 3-under.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari are tied for fourth at 7-under. Molinari had the low round of the day, and the tournament so far, an 8-under 63. Moinari had no bogeys and had five of his eight birdies between 11 and 18.
The tournament is quite the case of the cream rising to the top. Five of the top seven spots are occupied by players firmly entrenched in the Top 60 in the Race to Dubai standings, while Colsaerts, at 99th, has a chance to move up into the field if he finishes high enough.
Wales’ Jamie Donaldson shot a 3-under 67 to rise into a three-way tie for 10th at 5-under, four strokes off the lead.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn also bounced back, with a 2-under 69 to rise to 2-under and into a tie for 22nd.
GolfBlogger.co.uk 