Pin-sharp putting enables Simon Dyson to fight back (From York Press)

Pin-sharp putting enables Simon Dyson to fight back

10:25am Saturday 21st January 2012 in Golf

CLUB class returned to the delight of York-born Simon Dyson in his first European Golf Tour mission.

The 34-year-old cast off the dismay of a moderate two-over-par opening round in the Volvo Champions event to bounce back with a three-under-par second round 70 that elevated him towards the midway point of the leader-board going into today’s third round.

Dyson’s driving on both days was superb, but in acute contrast to the first day when his putting was awry, yesterday it was far sharper as he inched towards closer contention of the leaders.

The world number 28’s second round enjoyed a healthier start when he picked up a shot on the 214-yard par-three second hole.

There then followed Dyson’s customary consistency with a run of seven pars to take him to the turn at The Links course at the Fancourt complex in South Africa.

Within the first hole of his inward nine, Dyson had further trimmed his first-day arrears when he shot a three on the par-fourth tenth to get him back to level for the tournament.

The second round improved again for the Malton & Norton Golf Club ace when he bagged his third birdie of the day on the 14th before ending his round with another four pars.

With no midway cut in the tournament, which is open to all 2011 European Tour winners and those with ten or more titles to their name, Dyson’s confidence will have been boosted going into the weekend’s final two rounds.

The first day leader, Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, suffered a big dip in fortunes.

He followed his new course record nine-under-par 64 with a three-over par 76.

That paved the way for the top of the leaderboard to be controlled by South Africa’s Branden Grace.

He followed his first round 68 with a 66 to put him 12 under and four shots clear of nearest rivals, fellow South African Tom Aitken (68 70) and England’s Lee Slattery (73 65).

Jose Maria Olazabal, this year’s European Ryder Cup team captain, was a further shot down.

Open champion Darren Clarke kept his hopes alive when a five-under 68 lifted him from one over to four under and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was alongside him after he shot 67.

Also on four-under were twice Open winner Padraig Harrington and South Africa’s leading player of the past decade, Ernie Els.