 | SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD GB&Ire unless stated
(C denotes Carnoustie, K Kingsbarns, St A St Andrews)
-9 Colin Montgomerie (St A)
-8 Kenneth Ferrie (C)
-7 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) (C), Pierre Fulke (Swe) (St A)
-6 Paul Casey (St A), Brett Rumford (Aus) (St A) |
Colin Montgomerie picked up six shots in his opening six holes on his way to a 65 at St Andrews for a one-shot lead in the Dunhill Links Championship. Montgomerie, 42, who was second in the Open at St Andrews in July, reached nine under, equalling the best round at the Old Course since it was lengthened.
England's Kenneth Ferrie fired 68 at Carnoustie for second place at halfway.
Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez and Swede Pierre Fulke shared third place on seven under.
American businessman John Tyson, paired with former USPGA champion Rich Beem, leads the amateur event at 17-under.
Triple jump legend Jonathan Edwards, playing with Ferrie, and former Manchester United keeper Peter Schmeichel, partnering Dane Anders Hansen, were tied for third on 15 under.
|  We can play chess with this course |
In far more bracing conditions at the home of golf than in July, Montgomerie holed from the fringe to eagle the fifth and made a notable save at the treacherous 17th when he chipped off the road to six feet and holed for a par.
It could have been a 64 but he missed from four feet for a birdie at the last.
Despite that the Scot was delighted with his performance and said: "A 65 with no bogeys in these conditions is as good as I have done.
"I used to make mental errors here, but at the Open I was beginning to put the ball in the right places and right now I am very comfortable playing here in any condition from the first shot to the last shot.
"So is my caddie, we can play chess with this course."
Despite Montgomerie's heroics, he and amateur partner actor Michael Douglas were only tied 11th in the team event.
Victory this week would take Montgomerie second in the Order of Merit and top of the Ryder Cup points table.
When asked about next year's clash against USA he said: "You know how much I would like to play at least one more time."
A closing birdie at St Andrews gave England's Paul Casey a round of 70 and a share of fifth place at six under.
Joint overnight leader David Howell dropped five shots in an errant 74 at St Andrews and slipped back to three under.
The field is made up of 168 teams, comprising one professional and one amateur.
Each team plays St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns before the top 60 professionals and the top 20 teams contest a final round over the Old Course.
MMIX
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