Syme climbs into top 10 as Law steps up his card bid

Connor Syme continued his climb up the leaderboard with another impressive display in the fourth round of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

The 22-year-old backed up his stunning eightunder-par 63 on Monday with a five-under 67 at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona to move into the top 10 with two rounds to go in the marathon test.

Maintaining the brilliant start he’s made to his professional career, Syme has gone bogey-free for the last 36 holes in the pressurepacked test to sit joint-sixth on 11-under-par.

The top 25 and ties at the end of six rounds secure cards for the 2018 season and Syme has given himself a great chance to join recent Challenge Tour graduate Bradley Neil at European golf ’s top table.

At the very least, though, the Fifer has secured a full Challenge Tour category for next season and the same goes for his fellow rookie professional, Robert Macintyre.

The 21-year-old also made the 72-hole cut comfortably on six-under, a shot behind David Law after he birdied two of his last three holes for a 68. A closing birdie lifted the Aberdonian into joint-25th as he attempts to pass this test for the first time, while Macintyre is in a share of 35th spot after his third 71 in a row.

“It was a goal here to make the cut and get on the Challenge Tour, so everything is a bonus from here on,” said the left-hander from Oban.

Scott Henry was the only other player out of nine Scottish hopefuls to progress after he continued his brave fightback from a first-round 78. A bogey-free 69 got the 30-year-old, who finished joint-second 12 months ago at PGA Catalunya, through on two-under, but there was bitter disappointment for Ewen Ferguson and Ross Kellett at the end of an agonising wait.

They were both on course to make it through after getting to three-under for the tournament only to miss out by a shot after costly finishes.