DEAN Robertson drew on the memories of what he fondly referred to as the best round of his life to haul himself back into contention during the second round of the £55,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship yesterday.
While Stirling's Craig Lee leads the way on a six-under 140, former Italian Open champion Robertson carved out a five-under 68 over the PGA Centenary course for a one-under aggregate of 145 to lurk in the chasing pack at the halfway stage.
Roberts
on tore the 2014 Ryder Cup venue to pieces two years ago when he conjured a majestic ten-under 63 on his way to winning the Scottish PGA title in 2006. His round yesterday, illuminated by six birdies, may not have been as explosive but it was equally as satisfying for the former World Cup player, who has only mustered two top-five finishes in Pro-Am events during a disappointing Tartan Tour campaign.
"This place has great memories for me and that round in 2006 was the best of my life," said Robertson. "When you've done something like that on a course you can't help but tap into it again and try and use it to your advantage. I've been struggling this season and this has been my first good round for a long time."
As Robertson got his title bid back on track, European Tour rookie Lee bolstered his bid for the £8,800 top prize with a four-under 69 which gave him a two shot lead over former Northern Open champion Jason McCreadie of Buchanan Castle and Largs' Eddie Thomson.
The 31-year-old from Stirling, who is eager to land the winners' cheque to help finance a testing first season on the main circuit, birdied all five of the long par-fives with his only blemish being a bogey at the short sixth. "It's the first time I've kept a five off my card so that's been a bit of a first today," said Lee, runner-up in the past two Scottish championships. "My only bogey was a four and on the whole it was a very steady round." With Lee emerging late in the evening to set the pace, Ayrshireman McCreadie made the first significant move of the day when, as part of the second group out, he marched in with a tidy 69 which included a chip-in from 15 yards for an eagle on the ninth to give him a 142.
"I was up 4.30 am and I'm never that keen on early starts but I could get to like them a bit more if this is the result," said McCreadie, who is coached by the redoubtable Bob Torrance.
Thomson, another pupil of veteran swing guru Torrance, pushed himself on to 142 with his second consecutive 71 while East Renfrewshire's David Orr completed the first bogey-free round of the championship – a two-under 71 – to finish on 143 alongside first-round pacesetter Graeme Lornie of Aberdeen.
The full article contains 505 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
