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Saturday, May 23, 2009

US SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP - Ross Drummond leads at halfway stage

From the European Tour website :-

Prestwick's Ross Drummond opened a two shot lead at the US Senior PGA Championship after a four under par 66 at Canterbury Golf Club, and admitted he had surprised even himself.

Drummond is playing his third year on The European Senior Tour after a 26 year career on The European Tour which failed to yield a tournament win.

But he put himself on course for a first Senior title in some style as he attempts to become the first European winner of the event in 52 years.

"I felt my game was good enough to make the cut," Drummond said. "But I didn't expect to be in or near the lead. I would say, yes, I'm very surprised."

Among the chasing pack on two under going into the weekend is another of the European contingent – Germany’s Bernhard Langer, who compiled a second round 70.

Langer is joined on 138 by the American quartet of Jeff Sluman, Scott Hoch, Tom Purtzer and Larry Mize.

While Langer, Mize and Sluman have all won majors, Drummond's most notable success came when he won four Scottish Professional Championships in the late 1980s.

When asked about winning, Drummond said. "It would be a dream come true, obviously. It would be an unbelievable achievement, and something to be very proud of. But I don't think I can even contemplate that."

The 52 year old had both his birdies on the front nine cancelled out by bogeys the very next hole but picked up shots on consecutive holes straight after the turn.

A two at the 198 yard 13th took him three under for the day and Drummond completed his scoring with a birdie at the 16th.

LEADING SCORES

136 - Ross Drummond (Sco) 70 66
138 - Jeff Sluman 70 68, Scott Hoch 66 72, Bernhard Langer 68 70
139 - Gil Morgan 71 68, Tom Kite 69 70, Jay Don Blake 70 69, Chris Starkjohann 71 68

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