Moritz Lampert could have been in with the main tour for a week in his native Germany this week, but countryman Martin Kaymer endorsed his decision to come to the Scottish Hydro Challenge at Aviemore instead.
The US Open champion spoke to Lampert before the start of play at Spey Valley to tell him he had made the right decision to decline an invitation to the BMW International in Cologne as victory at Aviemore could have him playing on the big circuit every week.
Like Brooks Koepka here last year, the 22-year-old from Hoffenheim has the chance to win his third Challenge Tour only 10 events into the season and thereby gain automatic promotion to the European Tour proper, and he’s well placed just five shots off the lead at halfway.
London’s Andrew Johnston leads on 11-under, but some proven winners are gathering around him, not least Lampert and leading Scot Greig Hutcheon.
The young German, who more than resembles Kaymer in height, build and unflappable attitude, seeks the counsel of the former World No 1 and past Challenge Tour graduate when he can.
“I spoke to Martin two days ago,” he said. “I had an invitation to play in Cologne as one of the top eight players in Germany, but I turned it down to play here.
“There was a bit of buzz in Germany about not playing, a lot of people have asked about it, but Martin told me it was the right decision. I want to focus on the Challenge Tour.”
The three-win goal is tantalisingly there for the talented pro in his rookie year, but he’s trying to stay focused on the simple stuff.
“Everyone’s asking me about winning three times, but I’m just trying to play my normal game, and it is good enough to win,” he said.
“Of course the goal is to get the win, but whether it’s here or two weeks down the line or wherever, who can say?
“Brooks did it here last year, of course, and what he has done in the last month, finishing fourth in the US Open and getting his card for the PGA Tour, is incredible.”
A bogey at the last from a rare poor drive meant that he was another shot behind, but those can be made up over the weekend if conditions remain favourable, according to Hutcheon.
“I’ve had 64s and 65s around here in the past so another one on the weekend would be very useful,” said the Aberdonian, who put together a bogey-free 68 with more than a few adventures included.
Three-under for his first eight holes, he missed a number of chances but three key saves as well kept him four behind.
“There were a few good par saves, and if you’re in position for those you’d almost prefer to make those putts than make the birdie putts sometimes,” he said. “I had a sideways hit out of the trees on the eighth (his 16th) and got a par hitting a three wood in, and got up and down at the 10th (his 18th) for part as well, which keeps the momentum going for tomorrow.
“My driving came together a lot more today and apart from a few loose iron shots I’m in good shape and looking forward to being in contention at the weekend.”
Veteran Australian Terry Pilkadaris lies second and not only gains obvious credit for contending at halfway at nine-under, but also for the manner it was accomplished.
The 40-year-old from Melbourne played the first two days with Turkey’s Kaan Kalafatoglu, one of the developmental invitees that are occasionally brought into the Challenge Tour for experience, but who found himself just a little bit out of his depth.
At least yesterday’s 85 was an improvement on Thursday’s 92 for the Turk, starkly contrasting Pilkadaris’s rounds of 66 and 67 44 shots better than this partner over 36 holes .
“This round was a bit of a blur,” admitted the Aussie, who had one bogey over two days in comparison to 21-year-old Kalafatoglu’s two quadruples, two triples, four doubles and 14 single bogeys.
“There was so much happening, things going left, right and centre, calling groups through and searching for balls.
“Past experience of playing when someone is struggling is you’ve just got to knuckle down, and learn to switch on and switch off.”
The disappointment was that out of 23 Scots in the field, only a handful remain for the weekend.
Hutcheon is contending while David Law, fresh from his Northern Open last week, and Paul McKechnie, who shares time between the Challenge and Tartan tours, both shot four-under 67s to be on that mark for the tournament, while Andrew McArthur’s 67 left him lying a shot behind.
Fraserburgh’s Kris Nicol, the former Scottish amateur international, made it through on the mark at two-under.