Robert MacIntyre’s welcome return to form will be formally rewarded early this morning (SAT) in making his way into the top-32 knockout stages of the inaugural Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Knockout.
Fading light halted play with Welshman Jamie Donaldson leading by a shot at 12-under par and with three round holes to play, and among 10 players currently inside the top-32 and still to finish their round.
No trouble for MacIntyre with the Oban lefty grabbing a sixth hole eagle and four birdies in adding a 68 to his opening 65 to be well inside the top-10 at nine-under par.
Leader by one 🏴
And it’s no surprise playing shots like this from divots.#CyprusShowdow
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 5, 2020
He said: “Top get into the top-32 was my goal. Again, I played great, I just didn’t hole many putts – the same story as every day.
“There were lots and lots of lip-outs but I’m saving them for the weekend.
“It’s now knockout, it doesn’t really matter. You can go and win tomorrow but it doesn’t mean a thing. You can finish 16th and you’ve got as much of a chance to get it finished as first. Just go out there, play golf and see how low I can shoot.
“I struggled early on – a lapse of concentration on the first today. I’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow with a real awareness of what’s going on.”
England’s James Morrison went out in 29 and then birdied the 10th to be eight-under for his round to put most on ‘59’ watch before playing his closing eight holes in even par in a 63 to be sharing second at 11-under par.
Once the two opening rounds of stroke-play has been completed, the format calls for the top-32 and ties to tee-up today and with the then leading 16 into tomorrow’s final round.
Sadly, MacIntyre was the lone Scot among seven to win through to the last two rounds.
Among those was Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest who was five-under after 27 holes, and then inside the top-32, but signed for a horror day two 75 for a one-over tally.
