Crans-sur-sierre, September 05: South Africa’s Thomas Aiken fired a second round seven-under par 64 to take the clubhouse lead at the European Masters on Friday.
But Wales’s Bradley Dredge, whose last tour victory came in 2006, is only one behind thanks to a second round 65 and is nine under for the tournament.
Aiken’s round took him to ten under, but overnight leaders Brett Rumford and Simon Dyson both slipped off the pace.
Australian Rumford, who played the last 13 holes in 11 under in the first round for a 62, dropped four strokes in his first five holes but recovered to seven under.
Englishman Dyson, one behind overnight, had two bogeys in the first four, came back with four birdies, but then finished bogey-bogey for a level par 71.
Dyson, the winner of the Dutch Open last month, was in third place on eight under.
Alongside Dyson are Ireland’s Paul McGinley and Angelo Que of The Philippines while Thai player Chapchai Nirat, a member of both the Asian Tour and The European Tour who are co-sanctioning an event in Europe for the first time, was a shot further back.
Dredge is already targeting a place in the next Ryder Cup which will be played in his native Wales at The Celtic Manor Resort.
“The Ryder Cup is my goal – that’s it – and while I’ve had a disappointing year so far the season starts here,” said Dredge after his round in what is the first qualifying event for the European side.
—Agencies