Syme fires 63 to jump into card-winning zone in Spain

Connor Syme made the biggest move of the day with a stunning eight-under-par 63 in the third round of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain, where Robert Macintyre is also in a card-winning position at the halfway stage.

The dazzling effort from Syme lifted him 74 places into joint-21st, sitting alongside fellow rookie professional Macintyre on six-under-par after he maintained his position in the all-important top 25 with a 71 at Lumine GC in Tarragona.

Syme, who has made a brilliant start to his professional career, had dropped three shots in his final six holes in the second round but soon repaired that damage playing for the second day running on the Lakes Course. Starting on the 10th, the 22-year-old birdied the 11th, 14th, 16th and 17th as he stormed out in 32 before going one better coming home thanks to further gains at the third, fourth, seventh and eighth.

The bogey-free effort matched the lowest round of the event so far and has left Syme feeling confident that he can go on and join 21-yearold Challenge Tour graduate Bradley Neil in providing some new Scottish blood on next season’s European Tour.

“This is the first time I’ve shot eight under as a pro, so I am happy about that, but I felt I had a good round coming,” said Syme. “I played very well the first two rounds but didn’t get much out of them at all. So it was good to see a few putts dropping today.”

The top 70 and ties after four rounds progress to the final 36 holes and players achieving that feat will secure a Challenge Tour category for next season. But both Syme and Macintyre have a seat at the top table in European golf in their sights.

As Englishman Laurie Canter moved into the lead on 13 under after a bogey-free 67 on the Hills Course, Macintyre continued to give a great account of himself in an event featuring a posse of players with European Tour titles under their belt. The 21-yearold signed for four birdies, three of them to bounce back almost straight away from bogeys, on the Hills Course.

David Law is next best among nine Scottish hopefuls, sitting joint-34th on fourunder after a 70 the Hills layout, while Ewen Ferguson and Ross Kellett are just inside the projected cut mark on one under after matching 69s.