Colsaerts-John, an unexpected team in the lead in Scotland. Tom Vaillant, always incisive!

The Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts (photo) and the Australian Cameron John, respectively 695th and 1,007th in the world, take control of the Dunhill Links Championship at -14 while the Frenchman Tom Vaillant, still as solid as ever, is only three lengths behind behind them.

L.V.

Still no rain this Friday for this 2nd round of theAlfred Dunhill Links Championship but a much stronger wind than the day before, nevertheless not enough to completely shake up the leaderboard of this atypical event worth 5 million dollars from the cellar to the roof of the building.

Certainly, if Darren Fichardtleader Thursday after a monstrous 61 (-11) slammed at Kingsbarns, is no longer leading the tournament, he still remains in the running for victory. The South African, 49 years old, settled for a 70 (-2) on the Old Course de St Andrewsclearly “ abandoned » by his putter. Unless it’s the other way around…

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Second at -13 (131) with the Scotsman David Law (67 at St Andrews), he is only a little behind a duo of leaders who frankly were not expected in this place, the Australian Cameron John25 years old, 1,007th in the world, member of PGA Tour of Australasiasix unfortunate tournaments of DP World Tour on the clock, 68 (-4) also on the Old Course, and the Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts41 years old, impressive with his 65 (-7) on the route of Carnoustiethe most difficult course of this Scottish triptych.

« I’ve been playing pretty well since yesterdayunderlines at the exit of the recording the winner of theOpen de France 2019 who has been participating in Dunhill Links since… 2004. At St Andrews yesterday I really made my way (with a first 65). But here (at Carnoustie), this requires a little more field experience. Having participated in this event certainly helps. »

« I haven’t exactly had the best of starts. (bogey from the 3rd), continues the one who benefits from an invitation this week. I didn’t get the shots I wanted. Then I started to get into it, I made a birdie at 9, which is not usually a hole for birdies, and then it went well after that… »

Tom Vaillant confirms…

Carnoustie who clearly denied showing his fangs in this second day since the New Zealander Daniel Hillier posted an excellent 69 (-3) despite a double-bogey conceded on hole n°7. The Kiwi who currently takes fifth place at -12 (132) with three others “ outsiders », the Dutch Joost Luitenthe South African Robin Williams and the Swede Jens Dantorpall summoned on Friday to St Andrews, the most affordable course when the wind is absent.

He also present in Carnoustie, Tom Vaillant came out superbly with a very solid card of 69 which confirms his excellent start made the day before at St Andrews with his 64. The Frenchman, looking for precious points in order to definitively extricate himself from the red zone at the Race (he is currently 102nd), shares ninth place here at -11 with the Welshman James Ashfield3,395th player in the world (!), and the two English friends during the last Ryder Cup in Rome, Tommy Fleetwood et Tyrrell Hatton.

Saddier, second in alliance

These two had the upper hand on the Kingsbarns Golf Linksreturning a 65 and a 68 respectively. The first named gains 40 places on the leaderboard while the second, member of the LIFE Golf and partnered with his father in the doubles tournament, only three.

Besides Tom Vaillant, Adrien Saddier also “defeated” Carnoustie with his 69 of the day which allows him to knock on the doors of the top 20 (22nd at -9). The Haut-Savoyard who is almost in the lead in alliance since with his pair, Philippe Buchetonpresident and owner of Paris International Golf Club, he appears in second place tied at -22, two shots behind the pair Forrest-Gilbert.

We also remind you that only the first twenty teams will be able to compete in the final round on Sunday on the Old Course. The cut will take place at the end of the 3rd round and the first 60 and ties will continue with the last eighteen holes, still on the Old Course of St Andrews…

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