Grace still leads the way

Branden Grace leads the Dunhill Links Championship
5 October 2012

Three former champions were struggling to make an impression as the Dunhill Links Championship continued on three of Scotland's golfing gems today.

At four over par after nine holes at Kingsbarns Paul Lawrie, winner of the inaugural title in 2001, was joint 158th of the 168 players just five days after his superb singles performance at the Ryder Cup.

That left him a massive 16 strokes behind South African Branden Grace, who after his European Tour record-equalling 60 over the same course yesterday played the first six holes at St Andrews in level par.

Like Lawrie, twice winner Padraig Harrington double-bogeyed the 17th - their eighth - at Kingsbarns and dropped to two over.

Meanwhile, England's Simon Dyson, who was in Chicago last weekend working as a radio commentator, was still searching for the form which saw him lift the trophy two years ago. He stood three over after a hat-trick of bogeys on the back nine.

Open champion Ernie Els was only one shot better, but at least they all had another day to try to survive the cut - and had the easier St Andrews to come.

Spaniard Pablo Martin made the most sparkling start, five successive birdies on Carnoustie's inward half to move into a tie for second place two behind Grace, but then came a double bogey at the 15th and a bogey on the 17th.

Instead it was Swedish trio Joel Sjoholm, Fredrik Andersson Hed and Magnus Carlsson, Dane Thorbjorn Olesen and South African Anton Haig who were Grace's closest challengers.

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