Bob stars with day’s best score

Bob MacIntyre admits reining in Kurt Kitayama in the top rookie race is fuelling him after posting the day’s best round in Sun City.

The 23-year-old dunked two balls in the drink on the last at the Nedbank Challenge on Friday only to return yesterday and card a seven-under 65.

Up to a share of 21st in South Africa, the Scot is still nine shots off home hero Zander Lombard who leads the money-spinning event after a 72 kept him at 11 under.

But MacIntyre is on course to close ground on American star Kitayama in their battle to bag the European Tour’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.

As it stands he would tee up at the DP World Tour Championship next week – his last chance to bag points – one spot behind the 26-year-old in the Race to Dubai.

MacIntyre is bidding to become the 12th Scot to be crowned top rookie since the prize started in 1960, emulating the likes of Sam Torrance and Sandy Lyle.

The Oban ace was one over through his first four holes only to sink eight birdies on the way in for a blistering finish.

MacIntyre said: “It was not the best of starts. But then I managed to birdie two in a row and that settled me down. It was a great 65. I see now I am one shot ahead of Kurt and looking like being one place behind him on the Race to Dubai.

“That will be a little more of an incentive to see if I can match today’s score going into Sunday. The Rookie of the Year award is just another challenge that keeps pushing you on.”

Whether he is joined by countrymen

Richie Ramsay and Scott Jamieson at the end- of- season spectacular, with its £ 2.3million prize for the winner, hinges on the pair starring today.

Jamieson is level par after a 72 while Ramsay climbed to four over with a 70. Both are outside the top 50 on the Race to Dubai whose season will last one more week.

Jamieson, runner- up here on his Nedbank debut in 2017, said: “While I love this place, I always love to come down to South Africa and it is a great golf course, it is brutally frustrating.”

Lombard, who was the last player into the field where the winner banks £1.94m, is one shot clear of countryman Louis Oosthuizen (71) and Belgian Thomas Detry (69).

The world No.234, chasing a first Tour title, said: “I don’t want to sound cocky but it’s been a long time coming. I’ve made big strides in how I do things on and off the course.”