SM
Bayern vs. Augsburg: 15 hrs 36 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Nicolas Colsaerts in contention for first win in seven years in France

:Headline: Nicolas Colsaerts in contention for first win in seven years in France: ID:375433: from db_amp
The former Ryder Cup star has not won since the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2012.

Former Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts is in contention for a first win since 2012 after claiming a share of the halfway lead in the Amundi Open de France.

Colsaerts added a second round of 66 to his opening 67 to finish on nine under par, a total matched late in the day by overnight joint-leader George Coetzee, the South African making six birdies in his last nine holes in a 68.

American Kurt Kitayama is a shot off the lead on eight under, with Scotland's Richie Ramsay a stroke further back following a second round of 69.

Colsaerts reached a career-high of 32nd in the world following his victory in the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2012, a win which helped him earn a Ryder Cup wild card from Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal.

The 36-year-old Belgian won just one of his four matches in the "Miracle at Medinah", but famously made eight birdies and an eagle in partnering Lee Westwood to a fourballs victory over Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker on the opening day.

Colsaerts has struggled to consistently reproduce such form and began the week 424th in the world and 114th on the Race to Dubai, with only the top 117 keeping their European Tour card for 2020 after next week's Portugal Masters.

"I think I just needed a reboot," said Colsaerts, who has played nine of the last 10 events.

Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal and Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts, right, following a press conference at the Sofitel London, Heathrow Airport (Andrew Matthews/PA)

"I felt like I was playing good enough throughout the year but I would always throw a pretty bad nine holes in here and there that would make me go backwards.

"Every time I got myself in position I went backwards, which leaves a bit of a sour taste. I've seen better days and I've been happier so I want to play well and get this over with and see you next year."

Kitayama has already won twice in his maiden European Tour campaign, although his third place in last week's Italian Open was his first top 10 since winning the Oman Open in March.

"When it's playing this tough, and you come out with a couple under, it feels really good," Kitayama said after a 68 compiled in cold and windy conditions which greeted the early starters.

"Coming into today, I was definitely thinking 'Oh, it's going to be really tough', but it was a lot of fun."

Ramsay's second round got off to a nightmare start with a double bogey on the opening hole, but the Scot battled back to record a 69 and maintain his current run of good form.

"I'm disappointed to finish with a bogey but overall really happy because it was a tough start," Ramsay said. "Really proud to bounce back well and obviously 69 is a good score considering the way I started."

Ireland's Gavin Moynihan is four shots off the lead after coming agonisingly close to winning a BMW i8 Roadster worth £130,000 for a hole-in-one on the 16th, his tee shot slamming straight into the side of the hole but bouncing out.

"Everyone on the tee was reminding me of the car," Moynihan said. "I was happy with par, but I couldn't believe it stayed out. It went down and obviously had spin coming out of the hole and spun back to probably 12, 15 feet."

amp_article__375433 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-10-18 17:47:02:
html db last update - 2019-10-18 17:47:02 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .