Austrian Bernd on course to become the Scottish Open’s Renaissance man
Bernd Wiesberger last night edged clear at the top of the Scottish Open leaderboard – and towards a new record winning score in the tournament – with a moving day round of 65.
The Austrian picked up six shots through 16 holes before bogeying 17 to spark a nervous passage down the last.
However, he steadied the ship with a birdie three to chalk up a total score of 20-under, two shots clear of Erik Van Rooyen in second place, and four clear of Romain Langasque and Nino Bertasio in joint third.
A rain-lashed opening to day three in East Lothian did not hamper the early starters, who continued, as they had on Thursday and Friday, to take shots off an eminently scoreable Renaissance Club course.
As the afternoon brightened, the leaders followed the example set in the morning.
Only seven players went over par on the day, leading to the European Tour staging a secondary cut, trimming today’s field to 72, including those tied for 72nd place.
And should, as seems highly likely, today’s winner go lower than 20-under-par, he will set a new record in the Scottish Open, usurping last year’s winner Brandon Stone, and Ian Woosnam, for whom 20-under secured victory in 1987.
Among the big names, none of whom had worries over missing today’s action, Rory Mcilroy continued his Open preparations with a three-under-par round of 68, which leaves him nine shots behind Wiesberger.
Another former Open
Champion, Henrik Stenson, double-bogeyed 17 to spoil an otherwise solid round and leave himself six shots off the pace.
Meanwhile, Matt Kuchar, who is seven shots off the pace, was frustrated by two back-nine bogeys, only one of which was cancelled out, after hitting the turn at five-under for the day.
“It was a great front nine,” said the American.
“It was too bad not to keep that going. I had a couple chances there early on the back, but there are some tricky holes.
“I’m still pleased. Four-under is a good day.”
An impressive 64 from Matt Wallace saw the Englishman move to 15-under for the tournament, alongside Welsh star Jamie Donaldson, who is in pole position to claim one of three available Open qualification spots for those finishing in the top 10.
Donaldson, the 2014 Ryder Cup hero, was one of the day’s big movers, carding a six-under 65 to leave himself five shots behind the leader.
For the Welshman, who feared his career might be finished after wrist surgery last year, it has been a tournament to relish.
“I did think it could be over. I was just hoping it wasn’t! There was no Plan B. Just keep going,” he admitted.
“I always had this career-money thing, so I was always going to get an invitation to play again.
“There was also a chance I could have taken a medical exemption this year and got it perfect.
“But I don’t know how long that would have taken and would I have ever got to that position?
“I certainly can’t get into a press-up position, I can’t put too much force into my wrist.
“But you don’t know. I could have waited all this year from October when I had the operation, that would have been a year and two months.
“At my age where are you then when you come back?
“I dread to think how long that might have taken.
“It would be massive to win here. I played really good today so if I could produce that tomorrow there’s no reason why I can’t be right up there and have a really good chance.”
Calum Hill looked set to be top Scot until bogeys on 17 and 18 saw him fall back to 10-under for the tournament, alongside Scott Jamieson, who backed himself for a final day surge into an Open qualification spot.
“That has to be the target,” said Jamieson.
“It’s still reasonably realistic if you can shoot a seven or an eight-under. I’ve done it before.
“Generally, scoring is never as good on weekends as you see on Thursday or Fridays, but I can go low and I’ve done it in the past.
“The Open is still the one you want to play in. Any golfer growing up in Britain is the one you want to play in.”