Oban lefty Bob MacIntyre brilliantly took to the overtaking lane heading to the weekend rounds with his lowest main Tour career round of 65 on day two of the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.
MacIntyre, 23 muscled his way from two shots off the lead teeing-up on day two and storm his way to a superb four-shot leading advantage thanks to a rousing bogey-free round of seven birdies for an 11-under par total.
The young Scot leads German Bernd Ritthammer (66) who is at seven-under par.
MacIntyre, and with a back-to-back second place finishes earlier this year, is now primed to capture a maiden Tour title in just his 23rd event.
Also, it is a first occasion since 1996, and when MacIntyre was less than a month old, a Scot has held the 36-hole lead in a European Tour event since Sam Torrance lead after two rounds at the European Masters.
Now Dave? I am the one who shot the 65 today so I am going to drive the Porsche back to the hotel tonight. Robert MacIntyre with his coach, Dave Burns on route to a 65 on day two of the Porsche European Open. (Photo – European Tour/Gettys)
He said: “I just stuck to my game plan and it also probably the best I have driven the ball, possibly this year.
“It is just not going straight. It is going miles. I don’t know what I’m doing but it’s working and I am just going to continue to do it.”
MacIntrye was out in three-under par thanks to birdies at the third, fourth and seventh holes to move to seven-under par before storming his way to 10-under par with birdies on 10, 12 and 13 before a second straight birdie on the par-5 18th after finding the green in two also for second day running.
He said: “After the three birdies going out, I was just thinking of keeping on going and see how we can go.
“I can only control what I can control and that means swinging the golf club for each individual shot, and that is what I hope to do over the weekend.”
The current World No. 113 went so close to a first Tour earlier this year with a share of second at the British Masters and then backed that up superbly with second a week later at the Made In Denmark.
Now the fresh-faced ultra-talented young Scot is primed to become the first Tartan-born winner of the event since 2007 when Colin Montgomerie won by a shot at the K. Club.
He said: “My game is so much better after finishing second at the British Masters and in Denmark as I have changed a few things over the season to improve, and it seems to be working.
“My coach, Dave (Burns) is on the bag this week as caddy and he’s also doing a great job when I am off the course, and also back home.
“He has me practicing on all the right things and it’s just good to see the rewards.
“It is now going to be tough leading into the last two days, especially when will be my first time actually having the lead, but whether it was on the Challenge Tour or here on the European Tour, it’s just about learning from the experience.
“I am doing the right things on the course and doing the right things off the course. I am nice and relaxed while everything at home has been brilliant, so I am in the right mindset for going out there this weekend.”
And as the second-round leader, sponsors Porsche are offering those leading over the opening three rounds to drive a spanking new Porsche back to the official hotel.
MacIntyre said: “Davy was itching to get a drive of the car it’s my car to take back to the hotel this time (smiling).”
Sadly, MacIntyre is the only Scot among seven Hamburg starters to make the three-over par 147 cut.
Those heading home early included Grant Forrett (75 & 74), Liam Johnston (74 & 75), Richie Ramsay (75 & 74), Duncan Stewart (76 & 74), Marc Warren (76 & 75) and David Drysdale (79 & 77)
