Hill Muscles His Ways Towards A Second Tour Title In Three Months At Open D’Italia

4 months ago by Comments Off on Hill Muscles His Ways Towards A Second Tour Title In Three Months At Open D’Italia

Calum Hill brilliantly ignited hopes of not only a second Tour title this season but an automatic spot into next month’s Open Championship heading into the final round of the Open D’Italia.

Hill, 30, again teamed superbly with new caddy Stuart Davidson posting a super bogey-free six-under 64 in very hot, blustery conditions on the host Argentario GC, Monte Argentario course in Tuscany.

Indeed, temperatures were so hot officials allowed players to wear shorts.

Hill’s effort handed him a share of sixth place at eight-under and trailing just three ​shots adrift of Frenchman Martin Couvra (67) who leads by a shot at 11-under.

Ultra-talented Spaniard Angel Ayora led by four shots until posting a triple-bogey ‘8’ at the par-5 12th hole ​and ending the round with 71 to be tied fourth

The Scot’s round is his lowest since a last day 63 last March that saw him capture a second Tour title at the Joburg Open in South Africa.

Hill admitted the key to his moving Day’ effort was taming the three par-5s playing them in one-under compared to one-over the prior to days.

He said: “What I did better today was give myself chances on the par-5s as I have not played them particularly well.

“There are a lot of lay-ups involved on the fives, so you have to put yourself in the proper positions and I was so much better in achieving that today”.

The Scot is looking to become the 11th Scot to win the Italian Open and also just three years after top-Scot Robert MacIntyre won in 2022 on the Marco Simone course in Rome where a year later Europe won the Ryder Cup.

And it is his own success in South Africa some three months ago and that of his fellow Scots that is inspiring Hill towards Tour win No. 3.

Hill said: “I always feel comfortable when I think I am playing well, so if I can put myself within a chance of winning that will be super.

“As well, there’s the chance of a place into the Open Championship, plus the home Scottish Open so much to play for.

“I haven’t done that well in the Scottish Open so it is my favourite event of the year, and I want to do well!”.

Fellow Scot Ewen Ferguson, who defends his BMW International Open crown next week, posted a third round 70 to be just inside the top-50 at one-​under.

 



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