Robert MacIntyre remains determined to end a 13-year Scottish drought and become only the 12th Scot in a near 60-year history to win the coveted European Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.
MacIntyre gallantly reminded his ‘Rookie’ rivals of his intentions posting a blistering third round 65 in heatwave conditions at the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in South Africa.
The Oban lefty, and starting from the 10th hole, was one-over after four holes but then completed his closing 14 holes in eight-under to end the round just outside the top-20 at two-under par.
With a round to play in the penultimate event of the year, MacIntyre is projected to jump one spot to 12th on the Race to Dubai and that’s one place behind American Kurt Katayama, who signed for a 75 to be one stroke also behind the Scot in the South African event.
“The ‘Rookie of the Year’ award is just another challenge that keeps pushing you on,” said the young Scot.
Eleven Scots have been honoured with the Sir Henry Cotton ‘Rookie of the Year’ award since the inaugural award in 1960.
They include Robin Liddle (1966), Bernard Gallacher (1968), Sam Torrance (1972), Sandy Lyle (1978), Mike Miller (1979), Gordon Brand Jnr (1982), Colin Montgomerie (1988), Gary Orr (1993), Scott Henderson (1997), Scott Drummond (2004) and Marc Warren (2006).
Whether MacIntyre heads to the UAE on his lonesome or in the company of fellow Scots Richie Ramsay and Scott Jamieson very much hinges on both Ramsay and/or Jamieson producing extra low South African final rounds.
Both are currently outside the top-50 who will tee-up in Dubai with Ramsay posting a Sun City third round 70 to be sharing 45th place and projected to end his year 60th on the Race to Dubai.
Jamieson has yet to break 70 over the three days and on the course where he was runner-up in his Nedbank debut in 2017, and projected to end his season 67th on the Race to Dubai.
Jamieson said: “While I love this place and I always love to come down to South Africa, and while it is a great golf course, it is brutally frustrating.
“It’s the only way to describe it as you can hit great shots but not always get what you deserve but then it’s the same for everybody and it’s how you react to those react to those shots that determines how well you play this week.
“I had that great result here two years ago and I played well last week in Turkey to ensure I was in the field this week.
“I am still trying to finish as high as I can but unfortunately it’s going to take a real special last round to make sure my season ends next week in Dubai and not tomorrow here in South Africa.”
South African Zander Lombard posted a level par 72 to move one shot clear of the field at 12-under par as the 24-year old, who was the last player into the field, seeks to capture a first European Tour title.
