Scott Jamieson was left ruiing a late double-bogey in dropping from contention at the Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters at San Roque in Spain.
Jamieson, 40, found a watery grave with his 16th hole approach shot and dropping from a then share of third to end the day with a 68 and just outside the top-10 on the host Royal Sotogrande course.
The Scot’s hurt was not nearly as much as Frenchman Julien Guerrier who was staring at becoming only the second player in Tour history to shoot a 59.
Guerrier, 39, was nine-under through 11 holes when the TV cameras arrived but then managed just one birdie in the next seven holes to lead by a shot with a 10-under 62.
Jamieson, looking to end a 12-year Tour winless drought, was off the 10th and also cruising after four birdies in his opening five holes. He then birdied his 11th, 12th and 15th holes but put his 115-yard approach shot into the water guarding the green at the 16th hole of his round.
The Florida-based Scot pared his closing two holes in a 68 to be just outside the top-10.
Jamieson arrived on the Costa-del-Sol lying 88th on the Race to Dubai and needs to be top-70 post next week’s third last event of the season in Seoul to qualify to contest the Tour’s penultimate event at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Fellow Scot Richie Ramsay has his sights also set on Abu Dhabi in posting a three-under 69 but was out earlier in the morning’s windier conditions.
The East Lothian star birdied his opening hole but dropped a shot at the 15trh or his second hole ahead of a birdie at 17 but just two birdies in the calmer conditions of his inward nine.
Ramsay said: “I thought I played really good today with the only issue I had was dealing with the windy conditions in the opening eight holes or so being out early this morning.
“I missed a ton of chances coming in with just the two birdies. I was not easy out there as the wind was strong out of the left.
“Overall, my game is good so I’ve got two events being this week and next week in Seoul to get into the Abu Dhabi event, so that’s my goal is quite simple”.
Double major winning Jon Rahm, and looking to win a fourth Spanish event in just a 10th home soil showing, signed for a two-under 70.
OTHER SCOTS …
Connor Syme, Calum Hill, David Law – 72
Grant Forrest – 73
Ewen Ferguson – 74
