Gallacher continues in fine form at Czech Open

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher continued his fine form this summer with an early hat-trick of birdies when the Czech Open resumed today.

Gallacher went back to the European Tour qualifying school last November, but stands 23rd on this season’s money list with earnings of nearly £650,000.

His burst from the third at the Prosper Resort in Celadna lifted him from 26th to joint ninth and only two strokes behind Swedes Peter Hanson and Frederik Widmark.

It was not a good morning, though, for England’s Oliver Wilson, a two over par 74 effectively ending his bid to retain his Ryder Cup place.

Wilson had to finish strongly both this week and at next week’s Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland just to have a chance of qualifying, but he was down in joint 54th spot on two over.

Compatriot Ross McGowan, 11th in the points race, had a 73 for one over and unless he makes a charge through the field tomorrow he is likely to need a top four finish in Scotland.

Cup interest this weekend was focused on Hanson, Simon Dyson and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Hanson and Dyson, who teed off again two behind, both require a win to push the absent Paul Casey out of the all-important top nine.

Jimenez, meanwhile, lies eighth, but like Casey, Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Justin Rose is not playing the final counting event.

A birdie at the fourth put him joint 15th on four under and far from out of it on a tightly-bunched leaderboard.