England’s Phillip Archer leads the Vattanac Legends Championship after day two in Cambodia, thanks to a superb 67 in testing conditions.
Archer’s eight-under-par total around the challenging Sir Nick Faldo-designed Vattanac layout ensured a slender advantage over a quintet of proven winners at -7, including Peter Baker, Miguel Angel Martin, Simon Griffiths, Anthony Wall and Maarten Lafeber.
Overnight leader Greg Owen is at -6 after a level-par 72, alongside recent winner Andrew Marshall and Scotland’s David Drysdale. Four players are at -5 including Simon Khan, Stephen Leaney, Craig Farrelly and Keith Horne, who won in China at the Reignwood Legends Championship earlier in the year.
Teeing off on the 10th, Archer’s round came to life with a brilliant burst of four consecutive birdies from the 17th to the 2nd. He would drop a shot at the difficult 6th – playing the second hardest hole on the course – but managed to convert a seventh birdie of the round on his penultimate hole to claim the outright lead ahead of Sunday’s final round.
“My game has been trending in the right way over the last five or six tournaments,” said Archer, who is seeking a maiden Legends Tour win after a number of close calls. “I think I was third playing the last hole in San Sebastian, but double-bogeyed it. I was third going into the last round in Italy, and shot level par, didn’t hole anything. So I’ve been putting myself in place, but not finishing it off.
“Winning would mean everything. That’s why I’m still out here playing, because I love the competing side of it. I know there’s some quality players right behind me, and I’m not thinking I’m going to cruise it. I’ve got to play some really good golf again tomorrow. Today I just tried to beat yesterday’s score, and if I can do that again tomorrow hopefully it will take care of it. I’ll just stay aggressive and stay positive all day if I can.”
Archer will be joined in the final group by three-time DP World Tour winners Peter Baker and Miguel Angel Martin, who both shot 68. Former Ryder Cup player Baker was delighted with his move into contention for a ninth Legends Tour victory.
“It was a good day today,” said the 2023 Order of Merit winner. “I got off to a decent start, but it wasn’t easy out there at all. The big challenge is reading the greens, and it’s very difficult to get the line and pace. I have a local caddie and she has helped me immensely. It’s made a huge difference and my putting lines are a combination of both our thoughts, so she’s doing a great job. Other than Mauritius, I’ve struggled in Asia over the years, so I’m happy to be having a good week and to be in with a chance tomorrow.”
Spaniard Martin was also delighted with his play in round two. “My driving has been very good,” he said. “I missed very few greens and that’s the key, because chipping is very difficult. Once you’re on the green there’s a lot of grain and slope, it’s quite slow and there were some very difficult pin positions today. So I’m very happy that my driving has been really good and I’m in the middle of the fairway most of the time.
“It is hard for me because the longer hitters have a big advantage, where they can carry certain bunkers and I have to go around. But I’m in a great position and I’m hoping for some wind tomorrow that may take away their advantage.”
Play resumes on Sunday morning, with a live stream showing on the Legends Tour YouTube channel.
