Connor Syme superbly set about making amends for last week’s Celtic Manor near first Tour win in posting a stunning 66 and muscle his way into a share of the lead on the same course on day one of the ISPS Handa Wales Open.
Syme’s effort was five shots fewer than Sunday’s disappointment in having to settle for third place at the Celtic Classic.
It left Syme tied at the top with England’s Jordan Smith who grabbed six birdies in a five-under par 66.
Syme, 25 birdied three of his opening seven holes ahead of an eighth-hole bogey but it was the only blemish on the Scot’s scorecard.
The Drumoig golfer, who led the field by a shot heading into last Sunday’s deciding round, then birdied the par-5 11th hole for a fifth occasion in seven days ahead of joining Smith in a share of the lead with a 15th hole birdie.
Syme had bogeyed the 15th last Sunday in an even par back-nine that stalled his hope of glory.
The young Scot posted a penultimate hole bogey but broke out in a big smile in walking off just after 7pm local time with a closing hole birdie.
Syme said: “It was a good round of golf. The course was playing tricky and we were thinking how could they change the golf course from last week and the wind did that for use, as it was coming from a different direction and a lot stronger.
“I had to plan my way around a bit differently but I did that while a holed a few nice putts that was a bonus.
Conor Syme brilliantly sets about making ammends for last week’s Celtic Classic loss in sharing the lead on day one ISPS Handa Wales Open
“I also took a lot of confidence into today’s round after leading last week which was a new experience for me, so I really enjoyed today and it was great to get back into it.
“So, I am just trying to draw on all these new experiences and today was another one of those.”
Good news also for Drumoig golfer as he chases a maiden Tour victory is that England’s Sam Horsfield, and who the Scot partnered last Sunday, struggled four days after winning a second Tour title in three events in posting a two-over par 73.
Top-ranked Scott Robert MacIntyre superbly kick-started his first regular European Tour event since March 7th with a second hole eagle ‘3’ and also delighted in moving into a fourway share of third place after signing for a three-under par 68.
MacIntyre said: “It was a wee bit tougher out there today than I was expecting. Early on it was brutal, I actually probably played my best golf when it was like that. Late on the wind started to switch and it was a bit of guesswork coming in.
“To get in at three-under, I’d have taken that when I went out. You just have to miss it in the right places. You’re not going to hit the perfect golf shot every time.”
