Drysdale shares lead with Spanish pair

SCOTLAND’S David Drysdale shared the clubhouse lead with two Spaniards midway through day two of the Russian Open.

The 31-year-old Cockburnspath player followed up a sparkling opening round of 62 with a more sedate two-under-par 70 at the Moscow Country Club.

He finished third in Moscow last year and is hoping to go even better this time, describing his chance this week as potentially “life-changing”.

With so many top names playing in the US PGA championship this week, it is the likes of Drysdale looking to capitalise at the newly-sanctioned European Tour event where the prize pot has grown from £270,000 to £530,000.

Twelve months ago, Moscow was not a fixture on the main tour. However, with a main tour exemption on offer to the winner there is now considerable incentive.

Drysdale might come to rue his disappointing second round, as Spain’s Carlos Rodiles and Francis Valera pulled alongside him on 12 under par.

Rodiles, who on Thursday posted a 63, followed that with a 69, while Valera added a 67 to his opening 65. Rodiles would have held the outright lead, but bogeys at his closing two holes — he began on the 10th tee — were his undoing.

Two shots behind the front three was South Africa’s James Kingston, after a second successive bogey-free round, this time a 69 to follow his 65.

Ireland’s Gary Murphy was fifth on nine-under 135 after a solid 68, with Argentinian Rodolfo Gonzalez a further shot off the pace.