American Ray Carrasco’s low ball flight was just the tonic for the tough links conditions at the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open as he moved in front with one round to go.
Carrasco shot his second successive one under par 68 at Royal St David’s Golf Club to lead by a stroke from countryman David Oakley and New Zealand’s Simon Owen.
Oakley carded a 67, which was the joint lowest round of the day, while first round leader Owen returned a 71.
Cold and windy conditions prevailed again pushing scores high. Carrasco leads the European Seniors Tour event on two under par 136, and he was one of only five players to break par on the second day.
“With the weather, the way it has been, it has been a real battle out there. I was fortunate, I had a super start with a 25-footer for a birdie on the first and that kind of got things going,” said Carrasco.
Carrasco has won twice on the Seniors Tour, in last year’s Digicel Jamaica Classic and the 2002 Travis Perkins Seniors Masters at the Wentworth Club, and would dearly like to land a title on a links course.
“I hit it low so links golf really suits my game. It would be nice to win on a links course so this would be really something. I have had a lot of back problems over the past two or three years so I am so happy to be swinging the club,” added the American, who made five birdies and four bogeys.
After a poor start with bogies on three and four Oakley charged up the leaderboard with birdies on the sixth, eighth, 13th and 18th.
Owen who hit the front on the first day with a 66 dropped a shot on the 14th to finish the day on the shoulder of Carrasco.
Australian Noel Ratcliffe started the day in the lead with Owen but fell back with a 77 and is five over for the tournament.
American Bob Lendzion, also carded a 67 and is tied with former winner Denis Durnian from England, who came in with a 70. They are three behind Carrasco.
New Zealand’s Bob Charles, aged 68, showed his class by shooting a 70 to give himself an outside chance for the title. Charles, who won the Open Championship in 1968 and is a two-time winner of the Senior British Open Championship, is six off the pace.
“I played quite nicely on the front nine, the back nine I started hitting a few wayward tee shots. I had one birdie, two bogies and 15 pars. It was steady golf rather than spectacular,” said Charles, who is now semi retired from the US Champions Tour.
“The wind is supposed to ease off a little bit. I hope I can shoot a par round or better. My 72 and 70 so far is pretty good for me in those conditions but it would be nice to leave here with a par round and hopefully the wind will allow me to do that. I feel like I am swinging the club reasonably well and my putting is quite good to,” added the New Zealander.
