Connor Syme is now just two rounds shy of not only a long overdue a first DP World Tour victory but joining a handful to have won both the Australian Amateur and Australian Open victory double.
Syme added a second 70 to move into a share of second place at nine-under, tied with American Patrick Rodgers, and three adrift of red-hot Aussie Min Woo Lee who proudly sits atop of the ISPS Handa board at 12-under-par.
Lee, 25, captured last week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and now the highest world-ranked player in the field, at No. 38, is well on target for a second win in six weeks, a fourth DP World Tour victory and the sixth success of his pro career.
And if there was a ‘shot of the opening two day’s then Lee produced that late in the day, and in front of the biggest crowd on The Australian Club course when he played a 9-iron off straw down left side of the 18th, and with ball landing just a few feet from the cut for a near tap-in eagle ‘3’.
A “big 9 iron” from 191 yards to 3 feet 🤩@Minwoo27Lee made the par 5 18th look easy. #AusOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/QsnmQTheJg
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 1, 2023
“A bit lucky off the tee shot, I pulled it, but I smoked it, so I knew I had a chance of carrying that bunker”, said a beaming Lee.
“It ended up in the nice pine straw out there and had a really good number for a 9-iron, like really big 9-iron and I’ve been hitting draws all week and it kind of sat up really nicely. I saw the coverage and it spun left towards the hole and nearly actually went in, so really happy with that finish.
“It’s always nice to make an eagle whenever, but on the last hole, it’s even nicer”,
It was back in 2011 when fellow Aussie Greg Chambers was the last to win the Aussie PGA and Open double.
Symes was off the 10th tee at The Australian and he got his round off to a flying start with birdies on 10, 11 and then 13 and 14 before the putter went cold, posting bogeys at the 18th and then 8th holes on the card.
He said: “It was like really quick out of the box which was obviously brilliant and yeah, kind of trickier, to be honest, I just struggled with my irons a little bit on my second nine and the way the pins are, if you’re a little bit off, it makes it tricky.
“So, I had a lot of good par saves but yeah, couldn’t really get close enough to make many birdies coming in which was disappointing but still in a good spot.
A Syme success would see him become only second Scot in 118-years to lift the Stonehaven Trophy while it would ensure the Scot a rare Aussie amateur/pro double, having won the 2016 Australian Amateur in Melbourne.
Syme grabbed four birdies in a two-under 70 to move into a share of second at nine-under with American Patrick Rodgers (70), trailing three back of red-hot Aussie Min Woo Lee.
And Syme needed little reminding of what lays ahead over the weekend.
Connor Syme seeking a first DP World Tour title and also end a 118-year Scottish victory drought ‘down under’
He said: Iit would be awesome to win the Australian Open, as I have amazing memories from winning the Australian Amateur down here seven years ago.
“It was a real catalyst in my amateur career. It’s brilliant I’m back down here playing and I’m excited to be down here. So, I’d love to contend and the first one’s definitely a pressure pot.
“There’s obviously a long way to go, 36 holes and I’m not totally sure if it will stack up over the rest of the play day, but yeah, it’s just a great opportunity and last event of the year, hopefully we’ll go out on a high”.
Joining Syme over the weekend in their last event this year is Grant Forrest, adding a 71 to be sharing seventh at seven-under.
Gleneagles-attached Callum Hill, with a pair of 70s, shares 39th place at three-under.
And the Scottish women duo of Kylie Henry and Michelle Thomson each made the cut, Henry moving to 26th at two-over and Thomson just inside the top-40 at four-over.
Former World No. 1 Jiyai Shin from South Korea leads the way by two at nine-under.
