Scotland’s Connor Syme heads to the weekend now determined for a double dose of success at the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
Syme tamed the ‘brutal’ wet and blustery conditions brought on by Storm Caroline moving two shots clear of the field with a second one-under par 70 for a six-under total.
The Drumoig golfer grabbed three birdies but also dropped two shots to be clear of fellow Scot Liam Johnston who posted a 68 to be among a group on four-under.
Syme said: “That was brutal, to be honest. I thought yesterday was tough but going through what we went through there, we got quite lucky yesterday to be honest. It was a real grind, that was some of the hardest conditions I’ve played in.
“Practicing on the putting green, the ball was moving a lot so I wasn’t sure if we were going to get started, but I’m delighted with 70 today.
Scotland’s Connor Syme leading by two heading to the final two rounds of the ISPS Handa Wales Open (Photo – European Tour)
“I don’t really feel like I had my best stuff but it’s hard in the wind. I just really trusted my pace putting to be honest.
“Although both my bogeys were three-putts it was one of those days where you’re just trying to find the green, and missing it on the correct side was key to be honest.
“So, I really trusted my pace putting, holed a couple of nice ones but that was the key to a solid score in that wind.”
Syme continues to make amends for letting slip victory last Sunday on the same Celtic Manor course after leading by a shot heading to the final day but end-up sharing third place.
He also entered this week’s event lying ninth on a mini money-list that ends tomorrow (SUN) night and with the leading 10 earning a place into next month’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot.
If successful in winning in Wales, he would join Paul Lawrie as only two Scots to have won the event while a U.S. Open tee-time would be a first on U.S. soil for Syme.
He said: “After going so close last Sunday, I was thinking it’s a new week and just started to knuckle down and start again.
“I’m definitely taking confidence from last week but obviously I was fully focused on this week when I teed off.
“Also, I’d say to qualify for the U.S. Open was definitely one of my goals once I’d started the UK Swing so to put myself into a position to do that is obviously great, but it’s not something you can really think about, there’s so much that can happen.
“I’m just trying to finish as high up the leaderboard as I can and the rest will take care of itself but there’s still a lot of golf to be played.”
Johnston, 23 is contesting a 38th main Tour event and like Syme, the Dumfries golfer is seeking a first win after a career best of two top-10s a year ago.
And in also only a fourth event in this COVID-19 hit year, Johnston is excited at his prospects over the weekend.
He said: “I’m just staying patient and enjoying the challenge ahead of me.
“On days like today you can’t beat yourself up even if you do have dropped shots or end up in a sticky situation. You’re more pleased with shots to 30 feet on a day like today and I putted well too, so I got it going early on.
“Overall, I’m delighted. I actually saved really well, hit my irons great, kept it in play off the tee with my driver. I had a couple of three putts in there too. I would have snatched someone’s hand off for three-under 68.”
Scotland’s top world ranked Robert MacIntyre was staring at missing the cut and tumbling from a share of third with a round of 68 on day one to post a horror second day seven-over par 78.
The Oban lefty birdied his first but then proceeded to post five bogeys, including three in succession from the 15th, and also a pair of double-bogeys.
It was MacIntyre’s equal highest score in also his 38 Tour events.
