Cameron Percy, after a week of sightseeing in London, is leading the Australian charge at the halfway point of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Sunningdale Golf Club. Following his victory at the US Senior Open, Irishman Padraig Harrington holds a one-stroke lead through two rounds. His closest competitors are defending champion KJ Choi and Thomas Bjorn.
Percy is among four players tied for fourth place at 6-under par. Fellow Australians Steve Allan, Mark Hensby, and Greg Chalmers, along with New Zealander Steven Alker, are also well-positioned heading into the weekend.
Percy admitted that school holidays and family time in London limited his preparation but found momentum just before starting Round 2. “I actually haven’t touched a club for three weeks,” said Percy after scoring a 5-under 65. He explained that he had been spending time with his children on holiday in London and had not practiced much.
Despite this, Percy managed to transfer positive feelings from practice to the course during Round 2. He set up an eagle on the par-5 first hole and maintained steady play after early bogeys to finish bogey-free over his final 14 holes.
Reflecting on Sunningdale’s similarities to courses in Australia, Percy commented: “It’s definitely not easy, but it’s just brilliant.” He noted that while it looks wide, going off track can lead to trouble.
Hensby started strong but dropped four shots late in his round to fall four strokes behind the leader. Allan’s round was highlighted by four consecutive birdies around the turn, resulting in a 3-under 67. Chalmers recorded one bogey and five birdies in his round of 66.
Richard Green enters the weekend at 3-under alongside Michael Wright who carded a bogey-free second round of 5-under 65.
