Scottish Open: Missed opportunities for the five remaining Scots at Loch Lomond

Published on Friday 9 July 2010 17:31

ON a day when the remaining five Scots in the Barclays Scottish Open all broke a par of 71, the two sitting in the loftiest positions both felt it had been a case of missed opportunities as they each left a handful of shots out on the Loch Lomond course.

Stephen Gallacher was sitting just outside the top five for most of the afternoon, having gone out in 33, three-under, and then starting for home with seven straight pars. However, a three-putt bogey at the 17th left the 35-year-old settling for a 69 and, at four-under, even a repeat of the closing 64 he shot two years ago to tie for sixth might not be good enough to trouble the leaders today.

"I played a lot better than I scored, which is a bit of a shame," said Gallacher, easily the most consistent performer among the Scottish contingent. "I left a wee bit out there and now I'll be aiming for a repeat of that 64, which is probably the best I have ever played on Tour."

Richie Ramsay knew exactly how Gallacher felt. On the surface, a 68 that moved the South African Open champion to two-under for the event appeared a decent day's work, but Ramsay reckoned it should have been a lot better. "Three-under is good, but I want to win tournaments," said the 27-year-old Aberdonian after dropping his only shot of the day with a three-putt from 25 feet up the slope at the last.

Playing in the same group, David Drysdale returned a 69 for one-under. The 35-year-old from Cockburnspath was three-under for his round with three to play before running up a double-bogey 6 at the 16th, where "a shocking second shot was so far left it was heading into a different county". For the second day running, Drysdale, who is battling a head cold, birdied the 215-yard 17th, holing from 20 feet on this occasion, before a monster birdie effort shaved the hole at the last. "I played okay and could have had quite a low score out there today as I had a lot of chances," he observed.

Martin Laird, who tied for tenth on his debut in the event last year, signed for a 70 to be one-under, as did Craig Lee, the 32-year-old Tartan Tour No.1. Laird, who ran up a costly double-bogey 6 at the 14th, a delightful risk and reward hole, is still not firing on all cylinders and, what's more, is struggling with the pace of the greens. Lee, who matched Drysdale's feat earlier in the day by making a 2 at the 17th for the second day running, said: "I've just got to go out in the final round and try to keep hitting the ball the way I have been. If I can also hole some putts I'll get a nice pay-day out of it."