Scotland’s Connor Syme wasted little time igniting a ‘Down Under’ rare of topping his Australian Amateur win with victory in this week’s ISPS Handa Australian Open in Sydney.

Syme, 28, grabbed eight birdies in a sizzling seven-under 64 in wet and overcast conditions to muscle his way to a share of third on the par-71 Lakes course, and one of two courses hosting joint men’s and women’s top Aussie titles.

Sydney-sider Cameron Davis, and winner of the event in 2017 at The Australian and the second of the two courses this week, went two shots lower also tackling the Lakes layout thanks to an eagle and seven birdies for his round of 63, one clear of American Patrick Rogers who signed for eight-under 64 on the par-72 Australian course.

Syme’s score is a second 64 in three rounds following a same score last Saturday in the Australian PGA in Brisbane.

The Scot shares third place with Aussie Hayden Hopewell while Syme’s fellow Tartan golfer, Grant Forrest is one back sharing fifth place with three others including fellow DP World Tour colleague, Alex Levy of France.

SYME SHINES IN WET/O’CAST #AusOpenGolf

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿@connor_syme @modestgolf quickly ignited hopes of landing the 🇦🇺 Amt/Pro men’s double with a super 6⃣4⃣ at The Lakes ⛳️

A 2nd 6⃣4⃣ in three @DPWorldTour rounds 👏👍

Read: https://t.co/G4Knp9CgVa

✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie) pic.twitter.com/Et8jeDjfSQ

— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) November 30, 2023

All four Scots in the field were competing on The Lakes and where play was halted for 40-minutes mid-afternoon due to continuing showers in Sydney.

They are among 156 male golfers and also 78 women, and competing in the Australian Women’s Open, and with Scot Michele Thomson birdieing her closing two holes in a one-under also on The Lakes course to be trailing five off the women’s lead.

Syme, and with Castlerock caddy Ryan McGuigan on the bag, is on a second visit to Australia’s oldest city and quickly took a liking to the course located close to Botany Bay where the First Fleet had first arrived in 1788.

“Really pleased with that round, to be honest as it was pretty tricky there on the back nine for all of us”, said Syme referring to the rain delay.

“I definitely putted really well. I kind of had a lot of good shots and took my chances when I had them, so I don’t think I really hit anything from length, but a lot of good [inaudible] for birdie, which was very pleasing.

“I’m a little disappointed in my result last week after a 64 on Saturday and was going so well on Sunday but just dropped five shots in a 71, so that was kind of annoying from the end.

“Though my game is in a good place so I’m pleased again with the start of this week and hopefully can keep it going”.

Syme first travelled ‘Down Under’ in 2016 and reigned supreme in winning the Australian Amateur at the Metropolitan Club in Melbourne.

And while there’s still three rounds to play in Sydney, if Syme were successful in the ‘double’ he would join first round leader Davis, and Open champion Cam Smith, who captured the 2013 Australian Amateur at the Commonwealth Club in Canberra.

Helping Syme in this ‘second’ quest is feeling comfortable again competing in Australia, and also with his fiancée for company.

“I’ve travelled to Australia a few times, including teeing-up at Royal Sydney the week after winning the Amateur, so it’s nice catching up with some guys I haven’t seen in a while”, he said.

“There’s also some friends coming up from Melbourne I know. It will be nice, it’s so far away from home obviously for us, but it’s nice to have the opportunity to actually come down and play and then catch up with some friends and family”.

Forrest, who is also engaged to be married, was also at The Lakes, and after  a dropped shot at the second he then birdied the next four holes in succession on route to his 65.

“They were perfect conditions this morning, obviously the rain last night softened the place up a bit,” he said.

“I played pretty solid to give myself a lot of chances and actually on our front 9, the back 9, I left a few out there.

“But then I got a good run from the third, with four in a row and it was nice to make another one on eight and, all in all, a good start.”

Top-ranked Scot Bob MacIntyre, and also at The Lakes, signed for a two-under while Calum Hill joined his three compatriots in the same clubhouse with a 71.

The foursome will be teeing-up Friday at The Australian Club where the closing two rounds will be played.