Darren Clarke and David Drysdale share the halfway lead in The Compass Group English Open at the end of a rain-interrupted second day at the Marriott Forest of Arden.
Drysdale, a graduate from last year’s Qualifying School Finals, is embarking on his rookie season and finds himself leading a European Tour event for the first time after posting a second round 67, five under par, for a nine under par total of 135.
The 27 year old Scot has picked up two top tens this season having finished tenth in the Canarias Open de España and joint ninth in the Madeira Island Open but for the first time this season he has posted two sub-70 rounds.
Starting on the tenth Drysdale was a model of consistency as he hit every fairway on his front nine of 33. A further look at his Reuters Performance stats showed he needed just 26 putts to move to nine under par, picking up three further birdies on the back nine. His only bogey came at the sixth when he found the rough and he was unable to reach the green with his three iron approach. He pitched to seven feet but missed his par putt. Nevertheless he hit straight back with a birdie on the next hole after chipping to five feet.
“I’m playing the par fives really well, which has been the key for me,” said Drysdale after picking up shots at all four par fives. “I’ve got my coach down this week, Derek Small, and we put in 27 holes of practice and it has been much better.
“If I am in the last group it will be a totally new experience for me but I am looking forward to it.”
Clarke, the 1999 and 2000 Compass Group English Open, was far from pleased with his two under par 70 after feeling he had “wasted three shots” on the back nine after an hours rain delay.
“I played lovely for the first part but let a few get away at the end,” said Clarke. “But I am swinging the club very well and feel very comfortable. I am hitting a lot of good shots and a lot of good putts and just have to wait for a bit of luck.”
Clarke’s Ryder Cup teammate Phillip Price continued his good run of form which saw him finish third in last week’s Victor Chandler British Masters with a second round 68, four under par, to lie a shot off the pace. He is now 29 under par for his last ten rounds of golf.
“I’ve been playing better for the past month,” said Price. “It didn’t look very glamourous but it was quite workmanlike and luckily I managed to shoot another four under. Hopefully it will click.”
Justin Rose continued to keep his name on the leaderboard as he chases back to back titles on home soil with a four under par 68 to move to seven under par. He was joined by Mark Roe, who is reaping the rewards from a new set of clubs, and local professional Darren Prosser.
Prosser, a member of the victorious 1989 Walker Cup team, the first Great Britain and Ireland team to win in America, earned a place in the field through his top four ranking in the Midland Region PGA Ranking. He shot a four under par 68 to lie just two shots off the pace at the halfway stage.
The cut fell at one under par.
