England’s Tom Whitehouse sleep-walked his way to the halfway lead of The European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage after a level par 72 over San Roque’s New Course left him one stroke clear of compatriot David Griffiths.
Whitehouse is already assured of a place on The European Tour for the 2006 season after finishing 17th on the Challenge Tour Rankings but travelled to Southern Spain in an effort to improve his position within Category 11. So far things are going to plan for the 25 year old as he moved to eight under par 208 and his relaxed approach is paying dividends.
“I actually don’t feel like I have got going yet and I am glad I feel that way,” said Whitehouse. “I’ve kind of been sleeping my way through it so far so hopefully I can keep sleeping for another three days.
“I wouldn’t say that I have waltzed through it but I am a lot more relaxed than I would have been if I had come here without a category. Hopefully I can keep that mentality of another 54 holes but there is a long way to go.”
This part of Europe has been kind to the Midlander as he won the Spanish Amateur Open Championship in 2001 and last year won on the Challenge Tour just over the border in Portugal and remains on course to claim another title.
Griffiths shot a two under par 70 to close the gap to one as he seeks to regain his place on The European Tour after finishing 153rd on the Order of Merit in his rookie season. Although he struggled over the last few weeks of the season, the former England International regrouped before the Second Stage and, having cleared that hurdle, once again feels comfortable with his game.
“I played very well tee to green the first three days,” said the 25 year old. “I putted well the first two days but just steady today. It’s long old week. Three rounds and we are only halfway there. Just got to keep telling yourself to do the same things and keep plodding away. Just don’t take any risks. If I keep playing like this I have a chance of winning.”
Robert Rock completes the English trio setting the pace at the halfway stage after a level par 72 left him on six under par 208 and just two strokes off the lead while South African Louis Oosthuizen moved into fourth place with a one over par 73.
Like his countrymen Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, Oosthuizen has also suffered this season from a watersports injury after he hurt his neck while water-skiing earlier this year. The injury flared up again this morning but he managed to keep things going to remain on course to regain his card.
“It was up and down today,” said Oosthuizen. “I hurt my neck again this morning and I have been struggling with injuries. I hurt my neck earlier in the year in a water skiing incident, and it has been coming and going all season. I didn’t play for nine weeks after it happened and it has been terrible all year. I hurt it in Madrid and had to withdraw form there and I felt it going again this morning so it was one of those days where I just told myself to try and keep it together and I managed to do that.”
At the end of tomorrow’s fourth round, the field will be cut to the top 70 and ties for the final two rounds in the final push for one of the top 30 cards.
