Gary Wolstenholme will take a narrow lead into the final round of the Casa Serena Open as he looks to secure his golfing future in devastating fashion.
The 50 year old Englishman, who was one of the most high profile amateur players in the game for the vast majority of his golfing life, has a wonderful opportunity to secure his playing rights to the European Senior Tour for at least the next two years by taking home the Casa Serena title and the €90,000 first prize.
Despite a double bogey sixth on the eight hole, Wolstenholme carded a second round of four under par 67 to move to nine under for the tournament, one stroke clear of compatriot Mark Belsham and two clear of the vastly experienced Gordon Brand Jnr with 18 holes to play in the Czech Republic.
Wolstenholme is adamant that his mind is focused purely on finishing in the top ten in order to secure a start in the Senior Tour’s next event, the Cannes Mougins Masters, but he is fully aware of the opportunity he has created for himself with his excellent display so far at Casa Serena.
“It was good fun apart from a very stupid decision on the eighth that led to a double bogey,” said Wolstenholme, twice a winner of the British Amateur championship. “Even after that I knew that I could shoot a good score. It was all about patience and one shot at a time.
“I am still thinking only of making the top ten here so that I can get into the next event. I know what people will say, that I must now be thinking about winning and everything else but I am not.
“There is no doubt that I am aware of the opportunity that is right there in front of me: my whole 2011 season currently hinges on how I do in the next few weeks, but I have to compartmentalise all of those thoughts to the back of my mind and put some good swings together tomorrow.
“My last win was about nine weeks ago on the EuroPro Tour and I have taken a lot of confidence from that. It was actually on a very similar golf course to this one in the sense that you have to think your way around. This has been a great experience so far and I hope I can continue but there are some great players breathing down my neck and it is bubbling up nicely. There is a lot to be played for – I just hope I am one of the ones with a chance with a few holes to play tomorrow.”
Belsham and Brand Jnr will also be hoping they are in the mix coming down the stretch in the final round after their own outstanding performances.
Belsham, a Senior Tour Rookie having progressed through the Qualifying School last year, is thoroughly enjoying his best performance of the season so far, while Brand Jnr is delighted to be back in contention having performed magnificently at the start of the summer, winning in Jersey but then falling out of form over the past couple of months.
Frenchman Marc Farry and England’s Andrew Murray are still in the hunt for the title on five under par, as are Australian Mike Clayton, Scotland’s Andrew Oldcorn and Chris Williams of South Africa who are five behind pacesetter Wolstenholme.
