Paul Lawrie, who lost a play-off for The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open 12 months ago, showed a steely resolve to go one better this time around when he shot a course record equalling 65 in the second round of the 2002 event at The Celtic Manor Resort.
The 1999 Open Champion established a two stroke halfway lead with his 12 under par total of 132, which created a tough target for the rest of the field to aim at in the rain-delayed second round.
Half of the 150 starters did not even commence their second round on Friday due to a combination of mist, rain and an electrical storm which forced three separate suspensions of play.
However the round was completed at 4.15 pm with the third round commencing at 5pm in threeballs. None of the last six groups will tee off tonight, with the leaders going out in the morning.
Lawrie, who was eliminated after two holes of a three way play-off for the title eventually won by Paul McGinley last year, returned to the course at 7.30 to face a birdie putt on the short 12th – the hole where he three putted to drop out of the sudden-death shoot-out with McGinley and Daren Lee.
This time he rolled in the eight footer for a two and that putt enabled him to sustain the momentum he had build up the previous day. Lawrie then knocked a sand wedge to four inches for another birdie at the 16th and finished off a productive 90 minutes’ work by chipping to four feet from 30 yards at the last for a final birdie.
“A satisfactory morning’s work” said Lawrie, who then revealed his intention to return to The Celtic Manor Resort Hotel to “chill” for a few hours as the others set about trying to reach his total.
He added: “I played lovely again this morning. I thought I was facing a six footer at the 12th but on closer inspection it was closer to eight feet, a little bit right to left, and it went straight in the middle. Just the sort of start I was looking for.”
Lawrie said: "The prospect of 36 holes tomorrow wouldn’t worry me. I’ve been doing weights and working out in the gym and I feel fit enough.”
Meanwhile England’s John Bickerton and Australian left hander Richard Green moved within two strokes of Lawrie after shooting 67 and 69 respectively for 134, ten under par. Bickerton, without a victory on The European Tour, admitted: “It would be lovely to go on from here but I am not going to pressure myself into thinking I am going to win.”
Green, a past winner of the Dubai Desert Classic, confessed he took a long time to shake the sleep from his system after a 5am alarm call, but commented: “I’m happy with my form. I am striking the ball nicely and Claude Harmon, my coach, is definitely helping me get back on track.”
Three players share fourth place on seven under par - Robert Karlsson of Sweden, England's Jeremy Robinson and South African Roger Wessels, who shot rounds of 67, 68 and 70 respectively.
