Ewen Ferguson back in Qatar mix as Marc Warren shines in South Africa

Ferguson, the 2022 winner, sits just three shots off the lead, held by in-form American Patrick Reed, in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club.

And, at the halfway stage in the CIRCA Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Town, Warren lies only two strokes off the halfway lead, held by South African Trevor Fisher jnr.

Though Reed, winner of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic a fortnight ago before losing out in a play-off in the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship last weekend, might be hard to catch, Ferguson is up for the challenge.

The 29-year-old stormed home in 31 in the second round, signing for a six-under-66 to sit joint-fifth on nine under.

“It was really good,” said Ferguson of his day’s work. “I was obviously a bit tired this morning and didn’t hit a great tee shot off the first but managed to find my swing in the middle of the front nine.

“When it got a bit hotter, I felt a bit more free and made a few nice putts coming in and that helped.”

Out in one-under 35, the three-time DP World Tour winner moved up a gear on his back nine, picking up birdies at the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighty, with a dropped shot mixed in at the par-4 sixth.

“Honestly, I just felt a bit more calmer coming into the back nine,” he added. “I sometimes struggle with super early mornings to focus and, as things kind of calmed down and woken up a bit, I started to feel I could see the greens better and visualise my shots a bit easier.”

‘There’s just something about that trophy!’

Ferguson joined inaugural champion Andrew Coltart (1998) and double winner Paul Lawrie (1999 and 2012) in claiming this prize and the Dubai-based player is excited to be in the mix again with two rounds to go.

“The course is amazing, but there’s just something about that trophy,” he said, smiling. “Every time I look at it, I’m like ‘wow, that thing is just incredible’. So that probably inspires me a little bit and then obviously I’ve got good vibes around here.

“Whenever I turn up on the range, I’ve got good memories, good feelings and it’s just a great city to be in with lots of nice places to go for dinner . I’m quite happy here and it’s not far from where I live.”

Grant Forrest is also in the top ten on seven under, while DP World Tour rookie Cameron Adam (five under) and Calum Hill (three under) made it through to the weekend as well.

Meanwhile, Warren is hoping that having to hit “Scottish shots” can help him stay in the hunt in the second event of the season on the HotelPlanner Tour.

After sharing the overnight lead following an opening 65, the 44-year–old added a 70 to sit joint-third on nine under as Fisher jnr moved into pole position after a second-day 67.

“It was a tough day today - a battle out there,” said Warren. “It was breezy again and the pins seemed to be really tucked away. It was tough to get it close to the hole, but I stayed patient, which was good.

‘Kind of using the old Scottish shots’

“I thought with the early start today we’d get it a little bit easier, but it was breezy and picked up as the day went on. The gameplan today was just to keep the head down and keep the ball in front of you.

“Kind of using the old Scottish shots - keeping the ball down below the trees and it worked out pretty good today.”

Warren, a four-time DP World Tour winner, explained why he’d been seen grimacing a bit towards the end of his second round.

“With my second shot on seven, which was my 16th, with a normal 5-iron, I felt a shooting pain down my leg at the top of the swing. Then the tee shot on the eighth as well,” he explained.

“I’ve kind of had things like that before. It’s a sciatica sort of pain, so I need to do some stretching and try to activate it a bit this afternoon and hopefully be okay for tomorrow.”

Ryan Lumsden progressed to the weekend in his first outing of the year on six under - he sits joint-15th - as the cut fell at one under.

Meanwhile, overnight leader Lorna McClymont had to settle for a tie for fourth as German Celina Sattelkau beat home player Cassandra Alexander at the sixth extra hole in a play-off to win the SunSport Ladies Challenge presented by Sun International in South Africa.

In the Sunshine Ladies Tour’s season-opener at Humewood Golf Club, McClymont opened the third and final round with eight straight pars before seeing her title bid undone by a ragged spell around the turn.

Nonetheless, it was a promising start to the new campaign for McClymont, who is in just her second full season in the professional ranks.