Hatton stays in contention for Dunhill Links hattrick

ST ANDREW: Tyrrell Hatton kept in contention for a third successive Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title after reaching the halfway stage one shot off joint leaders Lucas Bjerregaard and Andrea Pavan.

The Englishman carded a 66 on Friday at calm Carnoustie to join Austrian Matthias Schwab and Australian overnight jointleader Marcus Fraser in a group of three at eightunder in the proam event played on three courses.

“It’s been a good couple of days,” said Hatton, who helped Europe to Ryder Cup success last week in France.

“There’s still two days to go but I’m looking forward to playing St Andrews tomorrow ... I’ll hopefully have a good weekend.”

Hatton said he had also spoken on the telephone to the female spectator who was hit on the head on Thursday by his wayward strike at the 15th hole at Kingsbarns.

“She’s going to be in St Andrews tomorrow, so I’ll see her,” he added.

“Obviously the positives are that she’s fine and she’s able to enjoy the golf for the rest of the week.”

Denmark’s Bjerregaard and Italian Pavan both enjoyed bogeyfree rounds at Kingsbarns to lead the field into the weekend on nineunder.

“I played solid,” said the Dane, who reached the turn in 33.

“I didn’t have to fight for my par too much out there. I got off to a good start, birdied the first and the third, it was very good. We had an enjoyable day.”

Pavan fired six birdies in his second nine holes, including four in a row.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood, fresh from his Ryder Cup heroics, finished the day at sixunder after firing a 67 at Carnoustie.