IT WAS sweet and sour for the two Durham County players on the European Tour yesterday, writes TIM TAYLOR.
Graeme Storm shot a four-under 68 to move into contention for the SA Open Championship in South Africa, but Robert Dinwiddie lost his tour card after missing the cut in his final event of the season.
Dinwiddie, from Barnard Castle, started the tournament 139th in the Race to Dubai, with the top 115 keeping their cards at the end of the season.
Not qualified for the remaining events in China, Hong Kong and Dubai, he needed to finish in the top five at the Serengeti club. But rounds of 74 and 71 left Dinwiddie one over for the tournament and heading for the final stage of next month’s Q School in Spain and a possible return to the Challenge Tour.
Storm, from Hartlepool, who represents Rockliffe Hall on the European Tour, signed for three birdies and a bogey on each half of the course and started the back nine with three birdies in a row.
He is one of nine players – among them five-time champion Ernie Els – who are six under and sharing 14th place five shots off the lead going into the weekend.
Ironically for Dinwiddie, the halfway leader is 31-year-old Scot Steven O’Hara, who started the tournament in 134th place on the money list and also needing to secure his Tour card.
Without a win in 222 events going back a decade, O’Hara added a 68 to his first-round 65 and kept a bogey off his card to reach 11 under.
He said: “I have played really well, my whole game feels in good shape. It’s like I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’ve been a bit more aggressive this week.”
Retief Goosen, a former Slaley Hall winner, and his fellow South African Merrick Bremner are right on O’Hara’s heels a shot back on 134.
Goosen, runner-up to Els last year in Durban, grabbed five birdies, including one on the 485-yard 18th for the second day running, but a bogey at the short fifth meant he matched O’Hara’s round.
Joint fourth are Garth Mulroy and little-known South African qualifier Lyle Rowe, whose joint best-of-the-day 66 came from the depths of 1,388th on the world rankings – effectively joint last.
Rowe had a second-round 88 in the event last December, but this time eagled the eighth and had six birdies along with two bogeys.
Oliver Wilson, a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup side only three years ago but now 133rd on the tour rankings, reached six under.
At least he has Hong Kong to come and so does Welshman Stephen Dodd, who is likely to drop from his current 122nd spot after withdrawing with a hand injury.
l SEE tomorrow’s Sunday Sun to find out why the North East has been chosen to launch a new national golf tournament for under-12 boys and girls next season – and how to enter.
