Syme stays optimistic despite losing lead

SYME slipped two shots off the lead after the third round of the Magical Kenya Open in Nairobi, but remained content with his day’s play.

The Scot had started out as joint leader but could only manage a 70 to be on eight under and joint third behind the leaders Darius van Driel and Spaniard Manuel Elvira. Van Driel carded a bogey-free 68 to stay on course for a wire-to-wire victory, while Elvira signed for a 67.

“Only two behind, which is a nice spot to be in,” said Syme. “I was positive. I had a bit of a setback on the eighth, I made double there which was disappointing. A poor drive and I was a little bit unfortunate with where it sat, but it was a bad drive. Hit the tree and it came behind me, so I ended up making a double there.

“But I was proud of how I dug in and made eagle a couple of holes later. I had one in the water as well coming in. A few penalty shots but managed to shoot under par, which was good.”

Van Driel who moved to 10 under thanks to birdies on the ninth, 10th and 14th, said: “It’s always been my dream to win on the DP World Tour.

“Trying to calm my emotions a little bit, not get ahead of myself. Play well and in the end I hope it’s enough.”

Syme – who had shared the 36-hole lead with Van Driel and Finn Tapio Pulkkanen – was alongside England’s Joe Dean and South African Ryan van Velzen, while Syme’s compatriot Ewen Ferguson was on seven under after also recording 70. He was joint sixth with Englishman Sam Hutsby, Elvira’s older brother Nacho and South African Deon Germishuys alongside Pulkkanen, who was leading before he made a triplebogey after a bizarre incident at the eighth where his drive got stuck up a tree.

“I feel like I was in position all the time,” said the younger Elvira, who is bidding to follow in his older brother footsteps as a winner on the DP World Tour in his rookie season after graduating from the Challenge Tour, finishing third on last year’s Road to Mallorca Rankings.

“I missed a couple of drives but I was always in the right spots and I gave myself a lot of chances for birdie. I think that was pretty important.”

History-maker Ronald Rugumayo, who on Friday became the first player from Uganda to make a cut at a DP World Tour event, carded three birdies on his final four holes to sign for a level par 71 and a share of 59th place.