Rookie Robert MacIntyre is heading home to Scotland on high after ending what has been an 11-event, eight-nation journey with a course record 63 on the final day of the Magical Kenyan Open.
The Scottish lefty leap-fr0gged 40 places on the final day and into an eventual share of 17th place thanks to an 11th hole eagle and six birdies, including three in succession from the second hole on the Karen GC course in Nairobi.
MacIntyre has been travelling the main Tour for a first time in his career since last November when he headed to Hong Kong just 18 days after securing his European Tour card via the secondary Challenge Tour.
The 22-year old Oban lefty then headed ‘Down Under’ for the Aussie PGA and then crossed the Indian Ocean for two events in South Africa before journeying to the Middle East early in the new year with starts in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia. It was back to Australia for two events, one either side of the island continent, and off to Oman and onto Qatar before this past week teeing-up in Kenya.
Since missing the Aussie PGA cut MacIntyre made it nine weekend showings in succession and with his best finishes being back-to-back T15s in the back-to-back South African events just prior to Christmas.
Little wonder MacIntyre is looking forward to arriving home later today (Monday).
He said: “I just can’t wait. Just to get home and see the family, the two foster kids Dan and Tom, it’s just so relaxing back in Oban, everything about it.
“I’m absolutely delighted. I didn’t really expect that after the way I’ve been playing but I just went out with complete freedom and managed to get it round in eight under.
“I’m still not really striking my irons great but I managed it well. I started holing some putts which is a key, I’ve been really struggling.
“It just wasn’t feeling natural and today I went out there and made myself feel free and it just worked.
“I made a joke with my caddie after we made the cut, I said ‘we can’t go backwards’.
“I felt I showed today that I have got the game to shoot the numbers I produced today, it’s just playing with freedom and that’s what I did today, so that has to be the mindset for the rest of the year.”
Italian Guido Migliozzi, who had joined MacIntyre graduating from the Challenge Tour, produced a final round 69 to win the Kenyan Open by a shot at 15-under par.
Dumfries Liam Johnston, who had travelled with MacIntyre to the very same 11 events, finished the leading Scot and securing his best finish in his rookie season posting a last day 71 for eighth place on eight-under.
