Harrington resists wind and rain to contend in Dunhill
Richard Mansell. Picture: Getty Images
Pádraig Harrington used all his experience to overcome horrific weather and move into contention for his third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship win in Scotland.
Despite battling driving rain and winds gusting over 50 mph, the 2002 and 2006 champion (51) shot a one-under 71 at Kingsbarns after an 8:30 am shotgun start.
"It was tough out there," said Harrington, who is tied for 10th on four-under-par, just six shots behind Englishman Richard Mansell, whose 68 at the Old Course gave him a two-shot lead over Sweden's Alex Noren, who shot 69 at Kingsbarns.
"I think, like everybody, I made a few mistakes, but I also holed a few putts, which you need it do on a bad day. 71 is a good return."
Harrington fared better than the rest of the Irish on a day when just ten players broke par.
"The ball was surprisingly going nowhere," Harrington said. "First hole of the day, 175 into the fifth and I'm a hitting 4-iron. Thought I was being smart. I thought, I'll show these boys. We didn't see it finish. It was 25 yards short. It was a shock."
Rory McIlroy made a triple-bogey seven at the 14th in a three-over 75 at Kingsbarns to fall nine shots off the lead on one under, while Shane Lowry had a quadruple-bogey seven at the 15th (his ninth) in a 79 that leaves him tied 116th on five-over alongside Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell, who shot 81 at St Andrews.
"Probably need to have a run at some stage over the next 36 holes," Harrington said of his chances of winning. "But at least I'm in a position that if I do that run, it counts."
At the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship, Belgium's Thomas Detry carded a second successive 67 and Canada’s
Mackenzie Hughes a nine under 63 to lead by a shot from Sepp Straka on 10-under at The Country Club of Jackson
Seamus Power turned in two-over 38 but recovered with four birdies in six holes before a closing bogey saw him sign for a second successive 71 that left him just inside the cut line on two-under.
Meanwhile, Stephanie Meadow made six birdies in a second successive rollercoaster 71 to lie tied 35th, 11 shots behind leader Charley Hull on level par in the Ascendant LPGA in Dallas.
At the Challenge Tour's Hopps Open de Provence, Rosapenna's Ruaidhri McGee is just four shots off the lead at halfway, tied for 12th on four-under after a 68.
Tom McKibbin is nine behind leaders Daniel Hillier and Bailey Gill on one-over after a 72, while Conor Purcell also shot a level par round to make the two-over cut on the mark.
In Italy, Gary Hurley finished third behind Ben Schmidt in the Castelconturbia Alps Open to move to fourth in the Order of Merit with the top five after next week's Grand Final earning Challenge Tour cards.
