Callum Tarren leads by two shots at the halfway stage of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship after battling back from a slow start to get to 13 under par with a second round 67.
Related: Record-breaking Brandon Robinson leads in Bahrain
The Englishman fired a bogey-free first round 64 at Royal Golf Club, but had to be patient in the early stages of Friday afternoon as he dropped a shot on the opening hole and made another bogey on the fourth to slip further off the pace set by Italy’s Andrea Pavan.
The 34-year-old bounced back in style, carding four birdies in his next five holes, and the birdies kept coming on the back nine.
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He picked up shots at the 11th, 13th and 14th to head into the weekend two ahead of Pavan – who held the early clubhouse lead after notching eight birdies and a single bogey – and fellow Englishman Dan Brown, who also carded a seven under 65.
Pablo Larrazábal is a shot further back at ten under after making a memorable hole-in-one at the second in his round of 68. The Spaniard, who is chasing a 10th DP World Tour title, holed his tee-shot at the 192-yard par-three with a six iron to seal the sixth ace of his career.
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Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen is then at nine under, with overnight leader Brandon Robinson Thompson amongst the group of five players a shot further back after following up his course record 61 on Thursday with a three over 75.
Player Quotes
Callum Tarren: I got off to a shaky start today, but I knew I was playing good golf, so I just stayed patient. A few bounce-back birdies, and I played really solid again. So just more of that and see what happens.
I misjudged the wind on one, got it riding the wind and hit it up against the fence. I could hit it, but it was against a rock so didn’t want to risk that. I just said, ride this tough start, but plenty of chances out there. Managed to capitalise on a few good shots.
There were a couple in the middle of the round where I hit it to two feet and a foot with nine iron and a wedge. A couple of good saves coming in, a couple of good putts. The par save on 16. That kept the momentum going. Shame about the last (missed birdie chance) but I’m ready to tackle the weekend.
Our first six, seven holes it was blowing but died off a bit, just tried to take advantage then and managed to do so. Just got to keep giving myself chances.
I’ve got to keep the foot to the floor because the course will yield birdies to the guys behind me. Just keep doing what I’m doing, stay patient. I feel very relaxed this week for some reason, I don’t know why. I just feel super chilled, so hopefully that’s a good omen.
Dan Brown: It was obviously very solid and managed to make a couple of good up and downs on the last three or four holes. That kept the good round together.
My coach gave me a great bit of advice three years ago – try to play every day like it’s the first round of a tournament, just don’t do anything that you wouldn’t on a Thursday, don’t do anything silly. So, I’ll just try to stick to the game plan and hope it’s good enough.
It’s nice just to be in contention, you always want to be there or thereabouts. Maybe I would prefer to be in front, just going off past results where I’ve won events, I’ve always had a lead and held on to it. Hopefully we can pinch it from Callum tomorrow.
