Swede leads at Castle Stuart
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SWEDE Alex Noren leads the way at the halfway point in the AAM Scottish Open, and believes he can keep getting birdies on the Castle Stuart links course.
He leads New Zealander Danny Lee and England’s Eddie Pepperell by one shot going into the weekend of play.
Noren finished third in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in 2012 after leading at the halfway stage that year.
He has clearly taken a liking to the Inverness course and believes there are a number of holes where he can continue to pick up shots in the second half of the tourney.
“I like this place. It's a really fun course to play,” he said. “A few very tricky holes and then a few holes where you can go for the green in two on the par 5s and you can reach I think two greens today on the par 4 in one, which is very fun for us.
“Some weeks, we play courses where it's tough all the way around, and here, it's kind of a really nice mix, so I like it.”
Pepperell (25) and fellow Englishman Richard Bland made a late surge on the Castle Stuart leaderboard on Friday.
Pepperell eagled the 12 and had four birdies in a 67 to take him to seven under, with a change of coach seemingly resulting in an upturn in his form.
“I didn't play half as well as I've played the last two days for the most part this season, so pleased to find myself in with a shout over the weekend,” he said.
“I've driven the ball better. I changed coach three, four weeks ago and we've been working hard on that. My driving had to get better. I feel like for a while, since I've been out here, it's been the main thing that's held me back from winning and felt I needed to address it, especially this year as it just got uncontrollably bad.
“I've put it in play on every hole for the first two days, and generally when I do that, then I score fairly well, what I would consider my strength.”
Bland (43) recovered from a double bogey on 13 to record six birdies as well on the back nine for a 68, moving him to six under.
“I just got a little bit unlucky with my second shot,” he said on his six at the 444 yard 13. “(I) thought I hit a really good second shot and the wind didn't touch it and it went 15 yards further than we thought it was going to. I kind of made a bit of a mess of it from there.
“I bounced back well, made a good birdie at 14, which is a tricky hole. (It was) avery nice way to finish. I had three birdies.”
Bland admitted his big aim is to make the top ten and qualify for next week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, a competition he has only played once before.
“I've only played one Open and that was 18 years ago. I'd like to play another one before I hang them up.”
Spaniard Jorge Campillo matched the best of the day round of 66 also achieved by Noren, Lee and compatriot Alejandro Canizares.
An eagle 2 at 16 meant Campillo gained five shots in 5 holes, and he now sits at six under, just two off the pace.
Almost 10,000 spectators watched Friday’s play, with bigger crowds expected for the final two rounds and a possible tense finale on Sunday.
Saturday’s draw sees Ryder Cup rivals Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson paired together, both on one over going out at 11am.
Highest Scot on the leaderboard is Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay, who shot 68 to move to four under. He goes out with England’s Tyrrell Hatton at 2.30pm.
Russell Knox is two under and is paired with former world number 1 Martin Kaymer from Germany for his third round at 1.45pm.
Other Scots who made the cut include Jack Doherty, who won the Scottish Open qualifier in Lossiemouth last weekend and is one over after rounds of 72 and 73.
Marc Warren is two under and Jamie McLeary is two over.
Big names who missed the cut include Miguel Angel Jiminez, Shane Lowry and Scots veterans Paul Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie and Sandy Lyle.
