John Bland overcame an opening double-bogey on the second day of the
Mastercard Senior British Open to play himself back into contention in a tournament he has yet to win but has finished runner-up on three occasions.
The South African closed with a one-under 70 - to be one-under overall - at Royal County Down but not before notching up a seven at the first hole. The South African found the bunker with his second shot, and from a virtually unplayable lie, failed to get out and suffered the consequences.
"The wind had threatened to pick up at that stage and I thought I was in for a long day," remarked the 56-year-old who lost out to Christy O’Connor Jnr in 1999 and 2000, and previously his compatriot Gary Player in 1997.
Bland showed a lot of resolve and birdies at the sixth and ninth got him back to level by the time he reached the turn and the prospect of a fresh opportunity to pick up shots on the back nine. An eagle at the par five 12th was cancelled out by bogeys at the 13th and 15th, where he three-putted both times from no more than 20feet.
A final birdie at the 17th ensured the second sub par round of the day thus far after American David Oakley shot 68 to get back to two-over for the Championship.
Bland’s playing partner and defending champion Ian Stanley literally had a game of two halves, resulting in a level par round to be four-over. The Australian was faultless with three birdies to the turn but four dropped shots and a solitary bogey at the 12th undid his good work from the front nine.
For those who may have thought overnight leader Noboru Sugai was a flash in the pan may wish to think again. The relatively unknown Japanese player has, to date, withheld all pressure from the chasing pack. Following yesterday’s impressive 67, Sugai opened with three pars before making a two at the 194yard par three fourth to lead by one on five-under.
It’s as you were with a trio of Scotsmen doing the chasing. Russell Weir maintained his second place on four-under after a birdie at the first while Peter Kerr and John Chillas both picked up shots to share third on three-under after two and four holes respectively.
Pre-tournament favourite Tom Watson, like so many today, birdied the first before continuing with three pars to be two-under. O'Connor Jnr was making noises of his own as two birdies in the first four holes got the Galwayman back on level terms.
At this junture, it may be worth sparing a thought for Glenn Mitchell who has every reason to forget his Royal County Down experience. The American added a 92 to yesterday's 89 to finish an astounding 39-over par, surely one of the highest two-round aggregates in any professional tournament.