Retief Goosen played the back nine in 31 en route to a four-under-par 68 and to sit in a share of second at 10-under after the second round of the Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
That five-under-par homeward nine followed an up-and-down journey out on the front nine as he made two birdies and three bogeys on his way to a tone-over 37. At 10-under-par for the tournament ahead of the final round, he finds himself one stroke off the lead together with Stephen Alker of New Zealand.
They were on shot behind Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina, who carded an eight-under 63 to hit the front. Gonzalez had the low round of the day by five strokes and bettered Saturday’s field average by nearly 10 strokes. He won the Trophee Hasan II earlier in the season, and, should he win on Sunday, he will become the first multiple winner on the tour this year.
Ernie Els battled to a two-over 74 to slip to two-under for the tournament and a share of 25th, while David Frost also had a two-over 74, and, at three-over, was in a share of 56th.
