Jesper Parnevik was on target for a return to Turnberry — the course where he let slip a golden opportunity to win the 1994 Open — at the halfway stage of the American qualifier in Texas today.
The 44-year-old Swede had a remarkable eight-under-par 64 containing two eagles and six birdies, including the first four holes, to trail German Alex Cejka and American Matt Kuchar by only one as 78 players battled for eight spots.
Cejka, who blew the recent Players Championship in Florida, had an even more spectacular round. He holed approach shots for eagle twos on the 411-yard second and 410-yard 11th and also eagled the long seventh.
Parnevik’s compatriot Richard S Johnson kept his hopes alive with a 65 to be in joint sixth place, while Scot Martin Laird had a 67, the same as American star Davis Love.
Fifteen years ago Parnevik stood on the final tee three clear, but bogeyed and lost by one when Zimbabwean Nick Price finished birdie-eagle-par.
