Mads Vibe-Hastrup used the inspiration of fellow Dane Anders Hansen’s victory in last week’s BMW PGA Championship to claim the halfway lead in The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
The 28 year old has partnered his fellow countryman many times in practice and was cheering him on on television last Sunday as he beat Justin Rose in a play-off to win at Wentworth Club to win the title for a second time.
“It was fantastic that he went on and won there,” said Vibe-Hastrup. “His season has been so-so and then he goes and wins the biggest tournament on Tour. It just shows that it can be done.”
Vibe-Hastrup’s form by his own admission has not been great this season either but he made a mockery of that statistic with a fine showing over the Roman Road course at Celtic Manor.
The former World Boys champion matched the best score of the week at the Newport course, a six under par 63 to move to eight under par 130 for the tournament and take a one shot lead over the Scottish duo of Alastair Forsyth and Steven O’Hara, who carded respective rounds of 65 and 66 for 131 and Australia’s Brett Rumford who matched O’Hara’s 66.
“I have missed a couple of cuts in recent months when my putting has been off but I played well in Ireland a couple of weeks ago in tough conditions and that gave me confidence,” said Vibe-Hastrup.
“I had a week off last week and so I felt fresh coming here and I was looking forward to going out to play – and I think that has shown in the way I have played over the first two days. I am looking forward to the weekend.”
First man in on the seven under par mark of 131 was Forsyth and the winner of the 2002 Carlsberg Malaysian Open on The European Tour had a fast beginning to his second round 65 to thank largely for that, birdieing the second and fourth and sandwiching an eagle three at the third in the middle.
“I got off to an absolute flier, it was just what I was looking for,” said the 31 year old from Paisley. “Four under after four holes you are looking at goodness knows what and I must admit that the thought of a 59 did come into my head for a moment.
“I tried not to think too much about it and just tried to do what I was doing but I just dropped a couple of shots at the wrong time. I three putted the 11th for bogey and I suppose that put paid to any hope of a 59.
“It was a little disappointing to only card a four under par round after that start but it was another solid performance so I am not going to complain too much.”
Joining him shortly afterwards was his fellow Scot O’Hara who admitted he was exhausted after completing his second round 66, a round which contained four birdies and only one dropped shot at the short eighth where his tee shot found the greenside bunker and he failed to get up and down.
“I was due off pretty early on but because we had the hour and three quarter delay for fog this morning I actually didn’t start until after nine o’clock,” he said.
“The only problem with that was was I think I must have warmed up about three today so by the time I teed off I’d hit about 200 balls or something like that. Therefore it was good to get back out and get started eventually when they said we were going to start.
“I don’t mind practicing but I think maybe I overdid it a little bit today, especially when I was up at 5.30! But it all turned out okay so that’s the main thing.”
While the Scottish duo finished early in the day, Australian Rumford left it until almost fading light before posting his 66 to get to seven under par, a fine effort considering that his second round started with two consecutive dropped shots.
“I started off a bit shaky but after that I came back and steadied the ship with a few birdies from there and that helped give me momentum to move forward.
“I putted really well once again considering the greens late on in the afternoon were getting quite slow and bouncy. But I putted very nicely, made some good saves and also made some good putts for birdies too. It is only halfway I know, but it is good to be up there again.”
As with Thursday’s first round when there was a European Tour record nine players tied for the lead overnight, the logjam effect continued on the Roman Road course as ten players tied for fifth place on six under par.
Amongst them was home favourite Bradley Dredge who carded a 66 and the 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell who matched the Welshman’s score to show a welcome return to form.
While Campbell will be in the thick of the action over the weekend, two of the other pre-tournament favourites, double US Open champion Retief Goosen and defending champion Robert Karlsson will have to content themselves with watching the action on the television after both missed the cut which fell at one under par 137.
