The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Disappointment for Syme and Neil in Mauritius
Scots pair fail to make cut as leader is hauled in by chasing pack
There was disappointment for Bradley Neil and Connor Syme in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, with both failing to make the halfway cut.
Perthshire’s Neil added a 72 to his opening 71 to lie one over.
Syme, of Drumoig, ended on the same mark after following up his first-round of 71 with a 72. He was on on his first European Tour start since winning his tour card at Q School.
India’s Arjun Atwal remains the man to catch, but saw his commanding lead trimmed to a single shot at Heritage Golf Club.
Atwal began the day four shots clear of the chasing pack after a stunning course-record 62 on Thursday, but could only add a second round of 70 to finish 10 under par.
That left the 44-year-old a shot ahead of England’s Laurie Canter and the South African duo of Dylan Frittelli and Louis de Jager, with pre-tournament favourite Louis Oosthuizen two shots further back on seven under.
“I was pleased with how I played,” said Atwal, who did not have a practice round at the venue following a 16-hour journey to the island.
Canter added a 66 to his opening 67 and believes his recent experience of gaining his European Tour card via the qualifying school has paid instant dividends.
“I’ve played so much golf in the wind recently through Q-School,” the 28-yearold said.
“It just feels like I’ve played a load of links golf and that kind of stuff, so I felt quite comfortable out there for a lot of it.
“If you can drive the ball half decent around here you’ll have a fair few opportunities to score and get the wedge in your hand a lot.
“I’m delighted with the two days, really.
“Playing in the wind is something that I would have said, maybe a year ago, that I need to do better. It’s something that I’ve worked on a bit with my coach to try to give myself a few more shots going into the green.”