The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Syme five back as Finn sets pace at halfway
Finland’s Mikko Korhonen will take a slender lead into the third round of the inaugural Shot Clock Masters, where none of the field was penalised for slow play for the second day running.
Korhonen has not dropped a shot in 36 holes after adding a 67 to his opening 68 at Diamond Country Club in Austria for a halfway total of nine under par, a shot ahead of England’s Steve Webster and South African Justin Walters.
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez had been four shots clear when he reached 10 under par, but the 54-year-old dropped three shots in his last three holes to finish seven under alongside home favourite Matthias Schwab, Ashun Wu and Jeppe Huldahl.
Drumoig’s Connor Syme carded a second round 72 to finish on fourunder and just five shots behind leader Korhonen.
This week’s event is the first in professional golf to time every shot from all 120 players in the field, with a digital clock operated by a referee on a buggy which follows each group.
Players have 50 seconds to take their shot if they are first to play, including tee shots on par threes, or 40 seconds for tee shots on other holes or when second or third to play.
They face a one-shot penalty for each bad time incurred, but none was handed out as the players quickly adapted to the experimental format.
“I love it,” said world No 709 Webster, who is battling to regain his full playing privileges on the tour.
“I was about 25th reserve a few weeks ago and I was crossing my fingers to get in. I love quick golf and this is how it should be. Everyone is so positive about how it’s gone so far.”
The last of Webster’s two European Tour wins came back in 2007 and, asked about the prospect of a third win this weekend, the 43-year-old added on Sky Sports: “At the minute my schedule is a bit of Challenge Tour, bit of main tour. I’d love to get my career back on track with a win here.”
Northern Irish teenager Tom McKibbin missed the cut on his European Tour debut, the 15-year-old amateur carding a 78 to finish six over.
Two other Scots made the cut and join Syme in the weekend’s play. Grant Forrest is three under after a second round 70, while Duncan Stewart is level par.
Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil had a day to forget, however, after his 79 – 11 shots worse than his first round – saw him finish on three-over and miss the cut by a shot.