…. Al Hamra GC, RAK
It was Connor Syme’s turn to draw on a new-season Scottish mens golf ‘feel good’ factor on day two of the RAK Golf Classic on the stunning Al Hamra course in the UAE.
After a 5.30 am wake-up alarm the Drumoig golfer was soon drawing on the strength of his game in shortening the course with a second-round 67 and share the leading Scottish honours sharing eighth place on eight-under par with struggling and clearly frustrated Robert MacIntyre who signed for a 70.
Connor Syme delighted to in contention with two rounds to play at RAK Golf Classic – Photo @TourMiss
Kiwi Ryan Fox, on painkillers and cortisone injections for ankle problems affecting his back, continues to lead adding a 69 to move three shots clear at 12-under-par in glorious conditions on the course laid out close to the Arabian Sea.
Five players are in second place at nine-under including South African Oliver Bekker, who set a new course record of a 10-under 62.
Syme’s round, on a course he first played in 2020, included six birdies and the best probably his 7-footer at the last.
Syme said: “It’s been two days of good work and delighted with the rounds. The course was very scoreable this morning as the wind was very favourable being downwind on the earlier holes that presented a few opportunities to make birdie.
“I played pretty solid and just the one mistake at the par-3 11th hole, where I three-putted from around 40-foot after a not bad tee-shot.
“I’ve been driving the ball these two days and that’s the strength of my game, and all I need to continue to do is commit to my lines, so hopefully I can carry that on and also get my irons to be a little bit tighter and that can only help alos with my scoring
“Overall, very happy with the way I played and to be among the upper half of the leader-board
Syme also is no stranger to the stunning Al Hamra course having played a qualifying event in 2020 to book a tee-time down the road for the Dubai Desert Classic.
A week ago, the Scot finished T27th in the RAK Championship on the same Al Hamra course
He said: “The first time I teed up Al Hamra, I liked what I saw and the way the golf course is laid-out, you always have space on one particular side of a hole but then the reward is playing where it’s tight and where you find the danger.
“It’s a fair test and I’m looking forward to building on these opening rounds”.
MacIntyre had TV commentators apologizing during his mid-round collaspe. MacIntyre let slip the chance to easily lead the second of a $2m Al Hamra course double-header in eventually posting a disappointing two-under 70 and head to the weekend tied in eighth place on eight-under-par.
MacIntyre had moved to nine-under with three birdies in his opening seven holes before sending his second shot into the sand-and-scrub area some 50-yards left of the green at the par-5 eighth hole. He then sounded his frustration, and heard by all, in being left with no option to hack his way out on route to a bogey ‘6’.
The Oban lefty was then in the water left off the tee at the 10th, taking a double-bogey ‘6’, and was nearly close to finding water at the back of the par-3 12th before a great 20-yard chip to three-feet for his par save.
MacIntyre then birdied the 13th and last for his 70.
OTHER SCOTS
137 – David Drysdale (66 & 71)
138 – Scott Jamieson (72 & 66), David Law (66 & 69)
139 – Richie Ramsay (69 & 70), Craig Howie (67 & 72)
142 – Grant Forrest (75 & 67)
146 – Marc Warren (73 & 73)
154- Ewen Ferguson (76 & 78)
