Scott Jamieson remains on the prowl and primed to celebrate his 37th birthday with a big leap on day three of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Malelane in South Africa.
Jamieson added a one-over 71 to his opening 66 to remain in contention and well inside the top-10 at seven-under par on the Leopard Creek course.
The Scot heads into traditonal moving day trailing six shots behind Poland’s Adrian Meronk who added a second day 66 to move to 13-under par and three clear of England’s Richard Bland (67) and Dane Joachim B. Hansen (64) and winner of last week’s Joburg Open.
The Florida-based Jamieson was disappointed to have moved two shots clear of the field, and with three birdies in his opening four holes to be then level at the turn, but only to play his inward half in two-over.
Jamieson said: “I got off to a fast start but let a couple go on my back nine which was a bit sloppy but I didn’t do too much damage and I am still in a strong position.
Scott Jamieson and caddie Richie Blair during their second round at the Alfred Dunhill Championship (Photo – Getty/European Tour)
“Shooting 66 and 71 is a very good start though I did leave a few out there on my back nine today which was disappointing but I was good on my front nine, so pretty solid.
“The wind was from a different direction today but it still doesn’t really give you much this place as you just have to stay patient and try and execute, and if a chance does come your way you have got to try and take it.
“This is the eighth time coming here and the course just seems to get better but also tougher every year.”
It’s the second year in succession Jamieson has been seven-under after two rounds in the co-sanctioned event before last December eventually sharing third place at 11-under with weekend scores of 68 and 72 and three shots off a victory.
The Scot was also third in the 2012 tournament having played the first two days in six-under and was five-under on the weekend to also finish on 11-under but a massive 13 shots back of Masters champ and local hero, Charl Schwartzel.
Oban lefty Robert MacIntyre again struggled to be four-under and bogey-free through 16 holes only to bogey his closing two holes in a two-under par 70 for a similar 36-hole total.
He said: “Actually, it was a good day except for the last two holes.
“I didn’t play as good as yesterday. Today, it was totally different as I didn’t drive it well, didn’t hit my irons great, didn’t’ chip it great but I putted great.
“I then just got caught out on the last couple of holes with a wrong club on my 17th and then the ninth hole or my 18th today is a beast. I have just been caught-up there the last two days”.
The World No. 63 has the weekend rounds and then the year’s closing two events over the next fortnight in Dubai to work his way into the top-50 and secure a maiden Masters invitation for next April.
He said: “Conditions-wise these last two days have been quite easy but I think they are going to make this place a beast over the weekend.
“You can hear the ‘sub air’ is on and the greens are already firm so it’s going to make the weekend quite hard and if you are not on the fairways, you can’t attack pins.
“Saying that, I love that challenge and that suits me, and if I can start driving the ball like yesterday then a score is still out there.
“I have a bit of work to do and the leaders will probably move to about 10-under but I’m not out of it.”
