Michael Campbell has not won a tournament since the World Match-Play Championship in 2005. Photo / AP
ZANDVOORT - Michael Campbell has given himself an opportunity to end a near three-year winless drought after moving into a tie for sixth, two shots off the lead, on the second day of the Dutch Open.
Campbell hasn't won since capturing the World Match-Play Championship in October 2005
whilst he hasn't tasted success in a stroke-play event since his victory in the US Open earlier that same year.
But a four under par second round 66 on the Kennemer course in Zandvoort has put Campbell at six under and in a good position heading to the weekend rounds of the 1.8 million euro ($3.8 million) tournament.
Campbell posted five birdies and a bogey to trail the leading trio of Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke (64), England's Robert Rock (64) and Sweden's Alexander Noren (66).
Sweden's world number six Henrik Stenson (65) along with England's Ross McGowan (64) are next best on seven under.
"My game has just improved so much over the last couple of months with the big change in my ball striking," said Campbell.
"The only concern remains my putting as I again missed some opportunities unfortunately but it's nice to be in the hunt again.
"It's nice also knowing that I am not playing to my full potential and I still have a chance to win."
Campbell said he enjoyed the golf course.
"It's a traditional old style course and even though we're only playing it at a par 70 it is still very challenging."
He hoped his second day score would provide the impetus to go out and shoot even lower tomorrow.
"Though I'm not about to get ahead of myself and it will be still a case of taking everything nice and slowly and one step at a time."
Whilst Campbell ignited hopes of a first victory in some time Gareth Paddison missed the halfway cut with scores of 69 and 73 for a two-over par tally.
The 28-year old Wellington player arrived in Holland lying 147th on the Order of Merit and still some 30 places shy of retaining automatic membership for 2009.
Paddison had moved to three under par early in his round after he birdied his second and third hole but it all turned pear-shaped when he took double bogey at the 10th and 13th holes.
- NZPA
