Simon Dyson stays in frame at World Golf Championship (From York Press)

Simon Dyson stays in frame at World Golf Championship

12:56pm Saturday 4th August 2012 in Sport

SIMON DYSON stayed in contention for a top ten finish at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio despite a one over par second round.

The 34-year-old York-born golfer fired a stunning four under par opening round at the Firestone County Club south course in Akron to sit in third place.

Although he was unable to repeat those fireworks in round two yesterday, the Malton & Norton Golf Club star was just outside the top ten at the halfway stage of the cash-laden tournament.

A bogey at the last took him over par for the day and left him eight shots behind the clubhouse leader, America’s Jim Furyk, who was on 11 under par after rounds of 63 and 66.

Dyson was in good company on three under, alongside North Ireland’s major-winning pair Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

In a roller-coaster second round, the world number 46 went into deficit for the day and halved his good work when he dropped shots on the par-three seventh and then on the par-four 11th yesterday.

But he quickly rediscovered his touch when he rattled back with two birdies in as many holes on the 12th and 13th to get back to four-under.

Dyson enjoyed a glorious first round at the Firestone Country Club south course in Akron.

He finished the day tied for third alongside none other than major winner Bubba Watson, current world number one Luke Donald, one of Dyson’s oldest friends on the circuit, and his playing partner over the first two days, Spain’s Rafael Cabrero Bello.

All three posted rounds of 68 to leave them in touching distance of outright leader, veteran American Jim Furyk, who fired a seven-under-par 65.

At one stage, Dyson even shared the lead in his first competitive outing since tying for 23rd place in the 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s just over a fortnight ago.

The Malton & Norton Golf Club star opened his first round on the tenth hole with a trademark par.

Then came successive birdies on the 11th and 12th holes before one of the highlights of his round.

His approach shot to the par-four 14th hole left him 39 foot away from the flag.

But Dyson’s aim was true and steady as he rolled in the putt to go three-under.

After three pars on the spin Dyson ended his outward half with his first bogey on the par-four 18th.

No sooner had he suffered his first dropped shot then he regained his composure with a par before then cracking the next three holes.

Birdies followed on the second, third and fourth holes to nudge him to five-under and a share of the lead.

However, Dyson’s tenure at the top of the placings was lost with only his second bogey of the day, a four on the par-three seventh in the event that does not carry a mid-way cut.