DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Leaderboard Weather
Nicolas Colsaerts said local knowledge was the key as he shot a stunning 65 at Carnoustie to share the lead with Cameron John after the second round of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Colsaerts, now 41, kicked off his campaign with a 65 at the Old Course at St Andrews on Thursday and recorded the same score at the notoriously tricky Carnoustie on day two to reach -14.
Australian John, meanwhile, followed up his opening 62 at Kingsbarns with a 68 on the Old Course, grabbing a share of the lead with his brilliant birdie at the 17th.
Home favourite David Law and first-round leader Darren Fichardt were in a tie for third a shot further back at -13 one ahead of the four-strong group on -12 following another day of low scoring.
Belgian Colsaerts, who has been coming to this event since 2004, felt his experience of Carnoustie paid dividends as he shot eight birdies and a single bogey, attributing his success to birdies at the difficult ninth and 17th.
The 2012 Ryder Cup star said: "I've been playing pretty well since yesterday. St Andrews, I really plotted my way around. But here, it requires a little bit more local knowledge. Having played in this (event) definitely helps.
"Didn't really get off to the best of starts. I was more agitated and I didn't hit the shots that I wanted. Then I started to get on a roll and birdied the ninth, which is not a hole that you birdie usually, and then went a couple on the spin, which was great, and kept it going.
"I birdied the 17th, which is also a hole you don't really birdie at Carnoustie. So yeah, it all fitted together."
A series of pars followed before John holed from 22 feet at the 17th to get to -14 and share the lead with Colsaerts.
He said: "It's just fun. You don't get it a lot back home, the odd course that plays similar but nothing quite the same.
"And that's kind of just the outlook of the week, just enjoy it, take it all in, walking up 18, it's always pretty special, so just remember it."
Meanwhile Tommy Fleetwood 68 65 -11 T9 along with former champion Tyrrell Hatton T9 65 68 are the top notables..Brook Koepka 71 64, Jon Rahm 65 71 from LIV, Rory 69,69 -6, Billy Horschel 70 68 -6, Shane Lowry 68 70 -6,
Grant Forrest and Martin Gilbert lead the team event on -24 after two rounds.
The cut falls Saturday evening..
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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