James Kingston fashioned one of the best rounds of his European Tour career to carry a three stroke lead into the third round of the Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club. The South African shot a five under par 67 in testing, windy conditions for a halfway total of 135 and a healthy advantage over English duo, David Dixon and David Howell, Australian Peter Fowler and Frenchman Jean-Francois Remesy.
Kingston’s performance was especially noteworthy as he was using a borrowed ‘belly’ putter from his close friend and countryman, Roger Wessels, after his own was lost between Dubai and Qatar last weekend.
Out in 31, five under par, Kingston played a succession of outstanding shots as the wind whipped up and carved out nine straight pars to force himself ahead of the field going into the third round, which will start this afternoon and conclude on Sunday morning.
“If someone had offered me nine pars after the turn I would have taken it” said Kingston, whose avowed aim is to lock up a place on The European Tour after some close calls in the past. “That was hard. I played well to be out in five under but probably even better to shoot par coming home. I played two of the best iron shots I’ve hit in a long time at the par threes – both three irons to the heart of the green.”
Kingston has finished 220th, 162nd and 129th on his three seasons on The European Tour and currently possesses a Challenge Tour ranking. A winner in his native South Africa, he has yet to taste victory on The European Tour.
“I came close last season but I will keep trying” added the 37 year old, who has eased his weary body from bed before 5am for the past three mornings in succession. “This is my eighth start in the last nine weeks and I am getting tired and can’t wait for a break, but it’s good to be in this position, especially without my own putter.
“I missed the cut in Dubai and practiced with it on Saturday but it wasn’t in the bag when I got here on Tuesday. I borrowed one from Roger and, thankfully, he also uses the ‘belly’ putter, even though it’s a little longer than mine. He might not be getting it back!”
Howell, one of only two groups to finish the previous evening before darkness forced play to be suspended, lies in second place on 138 after a level par 72 while Remesy, joint second last year, completed the last six of his second round in level par for a 68 and also a 138 total.
Remesy said: “It was difficult to refocus this morning but that’s the way it is this week. You have to take the rough with the smooth. I dropped a shot at the fifth (his 14th) but hit a lovely wedge to six inches at the next for a birdie.”
Fowler picked up four strokes over the back nine to move to six under and said: “I hit the ball well low into the wind and that shot helped me today. My putting was also good in the wind and that’s usually a good indicator of how you’re playing.”
Dixon, who came to prominence by finishing leading amateur in the 2001 Open Golf Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, joined the group on six under with fine 68, and promptly wanted to kick his putter. He birdied the 15th and 17th but also three putted the par four 16th after driving the green and three putted the 18th for par.
“I putted horribly” he said. “I’ve been struggling on the greens but I suppose I have to ride it out and try to find a better stroke in the last two rounds.”
Three of 2002’s Ryder Cup heroes all made the cut, Padraig Harrington on 143, Phillip Price on 144 and Paul McGinley the best of the trio on 140, four under par. However he said: “I’ve three putted four times and that isn’t good enough at this level.”
The cut was made to 50 and ties, with 54 players making the final two rounds.
