Chris Williams, 2017 Staysure Tour Order of Merit runner-up, carded a second round of 68, three under par, to remain one shot off the lead at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
The South African started the day on four under par after his first round of 67 at Harbor Shores Golf Club, and set out to chase down Tim Petrovic’s lead, which the American set at seven under par.
Williams shares third place with Petrovic, Joe Durant and Jerry Kelly.
“I hit the ball unbelievably well today,” said the 59 year old. “Almost half my round I was putting for birdie from inside ten feet, but the putter was ice cold today.
“But, it just makes par easier, and if I can do that over the weekend that will be great.
“I’m happy to be here and playing this well. These guys are good players, and to be up there and competing with them is fantastic.
“The biggest challenge on this course is trying to get your ball on the same level as the pin. You can hit a really good shot and be five feet from the wrong line and end up 30 feet away from the hole.”
One player who fell foul of the pitfalls on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Championship course was Welshman Stephen Dodd.
The two-time Staysure Tour winner went out in an incredible 29 strokes, but had to settle for a one under par total after finding trouble on the back nine in Michigan.
Meanwhile, Scott McCarron, who won his first Senior Major Championship at the 2017 Constellation Senior Players Championship, set the clubhouse target of eight under par, which Kevin Sutherland matched later in the afternoon.
“You get to many of these Majors and it has a bit of a bigger feel than we usually have on some of our tournaments on Tour,” said McCarron. “For me it’s a lot of fun. I think I get up more for the Majors because I never won a Major on the PGA Tour.”
Barry Lane and Magnus P Atlevi share tenth place with fellow Staysure Tour member Peter Lonard on five under par, while 2016 Senior Open Presented by Rolex winner Paul Broadhurst carded a five under par second round to take a share of 15thplace on four under.
David Frost, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Jesper Parnevik and Colin Montgomerie are a shot further back on three under par.
