Hill Getting Back To Near His Best With Sizzling Magical Kenyan Open Second Round 64.

1 year ago by Comments Off on Hill Getting Back To Near His Best With Sizzling Magical Kenyan Open Second Round 64.

Scot Calum Hill looks back to his best, producing a lowest round in nearly 18 months on day two of the Magical Kenya Open in Nairobi.

Hill, 28, grabbed an eagle and six birdies in a sizzling seven-under 64 and heads to the weekend just three off the lead held by Spaniard Nacho Elvira who finished birdie, birdie and eagle in a round of 65 to snatch the lead at 10-under on the host Muthaiga course.

Elvira’s eagle at the last upstaged three players – Germany’s Nick Bachem (67), Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune (63) and South African Jayden Schaper (65) – who were then leading on nine-under.

Hill’s effort is his lowest score since a similar 64 on the opening day of the 2021 Hero Open in St. Andrews, and a week prior to his Cazoo Classic success.

The Scot was then bitten by mosquitoes in October that year when competing in Portugal, and then struggled with debilitating after effects playing just three events in 2022.  Hill is competing in 2023 under a full season Tour medical exemption and with this week his fifth event, and finally showing great signs of getting back to normality.

The Glenagles attached Scot shares eighth place at seven-under with Peebles Craig Howie, who added a 67 to his opening 69.

Top Scot Robert MacIntyre is just one back at six-under producing  a bogey-free 65 and also his best score in 20 rounds this new season and a lowest in six months after shooting a closing day 64 to win last Septembers’ Italian Open.

He said: “I’ve changed my golf ball this week, going for a bit more spin to try and get better distance control, to be honest, as hitting wedges into greens I’ve been all over the shop.

“I’ve always struggled at altitude. I’ve never played that well at Crans or in Joburg, so coming here I thought I might as well try something different and it seems to be working.

“On Wednesday in the pro-am, I felt if I could fly the ball really low, it takes out the altitude and all the other variations off the spin and it’s been really good. I feel like my approach play has been unbelievable this week.

“As well, my putter turned-up somewhat today and the game is there”.

Connor Syme and Ewen Ferguson signed for 69s to be at three-under and with Grant Forrest (70) one further back.

Meanwhile ….

Richie Ramsay is hoping to be fit for next week’s Tour event at East Cape in South Africa after withdrawing ahead of the second round in Kenya.

Ramsay, who had posted an opening score of 70, went onto Twitter saying: “W/D today not in great shape, aches. Rest up bk next week”.

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