Golf: Adventurous Campbell back in contention

LOCH LOMOND, Scotland - New Zealander Michael Campbell provided one of the most adventurous rounds of golf on route to a four under par 67 on the second day of the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

The new European Open champion moved to three under par to finish eight strokes behind Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson who carded a six under par 65 and finished four strokes clear of the field at 11 under par.

Scotland's Sandy Lyle eased himself into second place, at seven under par, as he chases a first victory in a decade.

The former US Masters and British Open champion last tasted success at the European Tour season swansong Volvo Masters in 1992.

"This is a nice habit making the cut and I can recommend it to most pros and you get paid for it as well," Lyle said.

"I can't recall the last European Tour event when I have been in contention but it was a nerve wracking-day out and I just couldn't get going.

"But I definitely feel I can take things a lot better and the bad golf is behind me and I don't want to see it again so I can now bury it somewhere out in the loch.

"So I definitely want to try and get a victory and I am looking forward to the weekend.

"I can let it go and I am not going to try and go round there in 74 and protect myself.

"I need to go out there and keep up with the young ones."

Campbell began his second round at one over par but soon got back to level with a birdie at the third hole."

It was at the par three, fifth, where the New Zealand's remarkable run of five holes began with Campbell's score card reading birdie, birdie, triple bogey, birdie before a ninth hole eagle when he brilliantly holed his 90 yard lob wedge second shot. "The only thing that outward nine didn't have was a bogey," Campbell said.

"It was disappointing really to take the triple after a good start but it was lapse in concentration when I hit it straight right and into the loch and made seven.

"It's been a bit frustrating coming back to tournament play after leading and then winning last week because I had a lot of opportunities for birdies over the inward nine and just didn't convert them.

"But after being in the limelight for four rounds last week, it's a bit hard to get the juices going again, so I was lucky to escape at three under.

"I played nice but nothing great and three under is not too bad."

Campbell, fortunately, has not become a fifth European Tour winner this year to miss the cut in their event a week after clinching victory.

"I wanted to make the cut to have the practice for next week's British Open and that was one reason why I wanted to play well here in Scotland," he said.

"I still think I can find that competitive edge and give it shake over the weekend. "I have a few more things to work on with Jonathon (coach Yarwood) and just iron out a few little problems."

Greg Turner is headed to Sunday's starting two round British Open final qualifier at the Dunbar course after missing the halfway cut.

Turner is looking to contest his 12th British Open in 16 attempts. Also headed to final qualifying is Featherstone's Stephen Scahill who also missed the Scottish Open cut.

Scahill, who is yet to contest the British Open, will tee up Luffness New course.

Other New Zealanders entered final qualifying include Wellington's Gareth Paddison, who will compete with Turner on the Dunbar course whilst Phil Tataurangi is entered at North Berwick.

Elliott Boult, the only New Zealander among 362 players seeking one of the six spots available at each of the four courses, will tee up also at North Berwick.

- NZPA