The Scotsman

Syme jumps into top 30 in Race to Dubai after back-to-back top tens

- Martin Dempster

Connor Syme jumped above Scott Jamieson to become the top Scot in this season’s DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings after recording back-to-back top-ten finishes in South Africa.

The 28-year-old had his sights set on landing a maiden win on the circuit after sharingthe­54-holeleadin­thesdc Championsh­ip at St Francis Links then picking up an early birdie in the closing circuit. However, it wasn’t to be for Symeo nth is occasion as three bogeys in the space of six holes from the sixth at the Eastern Cape venue took the wind out of his sail sin the internatio­nal Swing event.

After following a birdie at the 13th with a double-bogey at the par -314 th, the drumoig based player signed for a 75, which left him having to settlefor a share of fourth spot on eight under. The effort came on the back of Syme sharing seventh spot in the Magical Kenya Open, picking up a cheque for €47,365 for this effort to jump nine spots to 26th in the Race to Dubai Rankings.

Syme has now recorded 15 top-ten finishes in total on the circuit and will be aiming to maintain his good form in another south african assignment, the Jonsson Work wear Open, which starts at Glendower Golf Club on Thursday.

American Jordan Gumberg will be heading into that as the circuit’s newest winner after beating home player Robin Williams at the second extra hole following a tie at the end of four rounds on 12-underpar. “It means everything,” said Gumberg of landing his success through a Challenge Tour category. “I never really got this far in my dreams.”

After a closing bogey-free 68, Ewen Ferguson finished in a tie for 20th on four under, four shots better than Richie Ramsay after a closing 69 earned him a share of 41st.

Elsewhere, Scottish No 1 Gemma Dryburgh had to settle for joint-25th in the HSBC Women’ s World Championsh­ipafter having the top ten in her sights turning for home in the final round ats en to sa golf Club in Singapore.

After leaping up the leaderboar­d on the back of a 69 on Saturday, dry burgh moved to five under for the tournament after picking up birdies at the fifth and sixth before a run of five straight bogeys from the tenth undid some good work. A birdie finish for a 75 saw her end up on one under, earning just under $17,000.

Australian Hannah Green, whose mother is from he lens burgh, birdied the last three holes to win by a shot from Scottish Women’s Open champion Celine Boutier. “Like they say, it really is Asia’s major,” said Green of the event, having closed with a 67 for a 13-under-par total.

Meanwhile, Anthony Kim’s eagerly-anticipate­d return to competitiv­e golf after a 12- year absence proved underwhelm­ing as he followed two76s with a closing 74 for a 16-overpar total in LIV Golf’s latest event in Saudi Arabia. Victoryat royal greens golf club in Kin gab dull ah economic city went to Joaquin Niemann as the colombian landed his second win of the season by four shots from South African duo Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.

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