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Robert-Jan Derksen of Holland and England’s Mark Foster finished the second round of The Quinn Direct British Masters locked together at the top of the leaderboard after a testing day at The Belfry.

Foster shot

FOSTER TIES LEAD POSITION ON DAY TWO

There was little respite for the afternoon starters though as, although the wind dropped, torrential rain hit the Midlands venue causing a short suspension to play. Derksen was finishing his round in the worst of the downpour and somehow managed to birdie his final hole, the ninth, regarded as one of the toughest on the course. That gave the Dutchman a round of 68 and a share of the halfway lead.

Martin Erlandsson of Sweden, Dane Søren Kjeldsen and the English trio of Ian Poulter, local favourite Sam Walker and Lee Westwood finished a shot back on six under par 138.

Foster’s round in particular was something to behold as he picked up six birdies and an eagle, although two three putts cost him a couple shots.

“It's very difficult,” said Foster. “The greens are key.  You've got to hit it in the right position on the greens and every putt is fast with two or three foot of breaks, sort of like Major greens.”

Foster enjoyed a glittering amateur career, including back to back English Amateur Championship titles in 1994 and 1995, but has only one European Tour victory to date having won the Dunhill Championship in South Africa at the start of the 2003 season after a six-man play-off. The fact he has not won since is proving a source of frustration.

“I think that's what drives me crazy, really,” he admitted. “Probably building momentum to the last day really.  I don't keep mentally good enough for four rounds and I've got to learn to do that.  Last week Thursday I was mentally poor and then put three good rounds.  I just go in and out and am sporadic.  I've got to learn to be consistent mentally.”

After an outward half of one under par 35, Derksen finished strongly, picking up four birdies coming home with just the one dropped shot for his 68.

“I am delighted with that score and five birdies on a tough day,” he said. “It’s nice to be joint leader. I’ve been playing well all year, finishing second in Russia and being close to a win, but there are still two days to go. If I can keep playing like this then I will have a chance come Sunday afternoon.”

Poulter had one hole to play when play was briefly suspended, but like Derksen saved his best for when the rain was at its worst. After 15 pars, Poulter finally got the birdie his approach play deserved when he holed a 15 foot putt on the 16th as the heavens opened. He followed that with another birdie in the 17th and saved par from eight feet on the last for a round of 68.

“It was a surprise to make those two birdies in that torrential rain but it was a long time coming,” said Poulter. “I hit some good golf shots out there, was steady, hitting the fairways and greens to ten or 15 feet and it didn’t hole any until it was chucking it down. It was nice to finish like that. Puts me in good position for tomorrow.”

Westwood is benefitting from some short game tips from former European Tour player Mark Roe, now a television commentator.

“It has made a big difference,” he said. “He’s given me a short game lesson I can relate to. I’ve had lots of lessons in the past, but none I can relate to. He gave me a good lesson at The Open and then we did some good work Tuesday. He’s given me a lot more variety around the greens.

“It’s a massive breakthrough. It should make a huge difference to the scoring, about five or six shots a tournament. But it has spread through my whole game. If you have confidence getting up and down, you can be more aggressive to fire at flags and not be afraid to miss it on the shorter side.”

After his fireworks of the first day, Erlandsson struggled in the conditions to shoot a three under par 75 to lie at six under par after two rounds.

“I am hanging in there which is good, but it was very windy and tough out there,” he said.

And in the gathering gloom, Midlander Sam Walker birdied the ninth, his final hole for a five under par 67 to finish one off the lead. The Birmingham City fan delighted the home supporters with some magnificent golf, highlighted by his holed nine iron on the par four fifth hole from 135 yards for an eagle two. Currently 128th on The European Tour Order of Merit, Walker is well placed to mount a weekend challenge on a course he knows like the back of his hand.

“I have been working hard to prepare for this tournament,” he said. “I hoped I’d have a good one and rounds like this prove I can.”

Among the players on four under par are the in-form Phillip Archer, runner-up in the last two events, Nick Dougherty, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Colin Montgomerie.

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