Denmark’s Anders S Hansen drew on the confidence derived from his first professional victory last week by setting the season’s best halfway total and largest 36-hole lead in the Galeria Kaufhof Pokal Challenge at Rittergut Birkhof GC in Germany.
Hansen – the middle initial distinguishes him from The European Tour player of the same name – tagged a seven under par 65 to his opening 63 for a two round total of 128, 16 under par. That represents the lowest score numerically and the lowest score to par in 2005, while his stroke lead is better by two shots than anyone else this season.
On a day for the Danes, it was Hansen’s fellow countryman, Thomas Nielsen, who emerged from the pack late in the day to take second place on 132, 12 under par, after carding a blistering second round of 83 which included 29 home with an eagle and seven birdies.
Sharing third place are three players on 133, 11 under par – Ariel Canete of Argentina, Welshman Mark Mouland and Shaun P Webster of England, who shot 63, 67 and 64 respectively.
Hansen, whose best finish on the Challenge Tour came in the same event 12 months ago when he shared fourth place, has made 16 birdies and 20 pars in his first 36 hole – and attributed his new lease of life to last week’s winning feeling.
The 27 year old said: “I played on the Srixon Tour back home in Denmark last week and won the tournament. It was my first win since turning professional two years ago and has given my confidence a massive boost.
“I had missed four cuts in six starts this year, but people always tell you that winning breeds confidence and it seems to be the case with me. To be honest I haven’t looked like making a bogey in two days. The longest par putt I’ve had so far is just over a metre.”
Hansen admitted that the par threes have been the key to his success to date. He added: “I’ve made six twos so far, and they are not easy birdie holes. That can make a huge difference to your score. Last week I shot six under to win the event without a bogey on my card, so I’ve gone 54 holes without making one, which is pretty remarkable.”
Canete equalled Hansen’s opening effort by making nine birdies and nine pars in his second round of 63 while Webster had a more adventurous day with seven birdies, an eagle at the second and a bogey at the third.
Mouland, who opened with a 66, raced to the turn in 31 but admitted: “The heat got to me. I don’t know how high the temperatures reached, but it felt like being in Africa. I was flying on the front nine then staggered home!”
He had nothing but praise for the performance of Hansen, saying: “That will take a bit of catching. It is a great effort to make 16 birdies and not drop a single shot in 36 holes here.”
