The Tartan trio of Calum Hill, Richie Ramsay and Connor Syme are primed to strike being just two shots off the lead heading to the weekend rounds of the Canary Islands Championship.
Spaniard Adi Arnaus birdied six of his closing seven holes in a score of 65 to lead by one shot at 14-under from South African Garrick Higgo, and with the recent Tenerife Open champ finishing birdie, eagle in a 63 to be at 13-under par on the spectacular clifftop Costa Adeje course on Tenerife.
Hill and Ramsay, each with rounds of 65, had led for much of the day before ending the round sharing third place at 12-under par with fellow Scot Connor Syme who eagled the last in a 64. Also sharing third is Italian Francesco Laporta (68).
While the in-form left-handed Higgo looks the man to beat the trio of Scots have other thoughts.
Hill is targeting a double delight of a maiden Tour win while victory would see the current World No. 139th ranked 26-year-old qualify for next fortnight’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.
If so, Hill will be joining fellow Scot’s Bob MacIntyre in next fortnight’s second major of the season.
Hill, and with top-10s since being joined by super caddy Phil ‘Wobbly’ Morbey, capped his second round with four birdies in a five-hole run from the 10th.
Hill said: “The good thing is I didn’t require as much luck today. Yesterday I had a few fortunate things happen, but today I just played really nice golf all day.
“I’ve been working on completing my backswing as it’s been poor but it’s all starting to click into place.
“So, very much now looking forward to the weekend”.
Ramsay, and as revealed earlier in the week by Record Sport, is just thrilled to get the competitive juices flowing again as he seeks to end a six-year winless run.
He said: “A win does feel close because I feel like I’m playing really well, and I believe fully in the process I’m going through.
“It’s a case of trying to stay patient and keep working hard.
“You’ll always lose many more than you’ll win, but my aim is to get in contention in the back nine on Sunday because I love that, that’s when the adrenalin gets going, you feel you can open the door and get win No 4.”
Syme, like Hill, seeks a first Tour win and he could not have been more pleased to see his chip shot for eagle at the last find its mark, and what was a 50th eagle over the two rounds.
What a way to finish!
An 🦅 at the last for @connor_syme.#CanaryIslandsChampionship pic.twitter.com/SBwlD59R5G
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 7, 2021
He said: “I felt like I was playing very well today and felt like something was going to happen, and while disappointed to drop a shot on 15, to see that shot at the last drop and lovely to finish with an eagle”.
And Grant Forrest signed for a 68 and a seven-under total to ensure all four Scots into the closing two rounds.
