Stevie-G’s Open hopes are blown away in the rain
STEPHEN GALLACHER fell out of Open Championship qualifying contention yesterday after a disastrous third day at the Scottish Open.
Scots star Gallacher carded a seven-overpar round of 79 in torrential rain and driving winds at Dundonald Links, leaving him at three-over for the tournament, and well adrift of the three available Open spots.
Fellow Scot Richie Ramsay secured his place at Royal Birkdale last weekend after tying for second at the Irish Open.
A birdie on 18 yesterday secured a levelpar round of 72 for Ramsay, who sits on two-under going into his final round.
He described the conditions that triggered compatriot Gallacher’s slump in no uncertain terms.
But with the aid of a vastly-improved forecast for today’s action, he is targeting a Sunday climb up the leaderboard.
“All in all I’m reasonably happy to get off relatively unscathed,” Ramsay said.
“The only hole I took my waterproof jacket off for was the 18th. It just wouldn’t relent.
“It’s part and parcel of the Scottish Open. It’s one of those days just to stick in and get the head down. Pars on holes are good.
“The ball is not going far on the ground so it’s playing pretty long. You have to kind of stick in and use that grim Scottish determination to get through it.
“This is as tough as it’s been on the tour for a while. There were a few hard holes in Ireland but this was pretty hard going.
“I’ll go out and give it 100%. A nice number on the final day will make the drive down to Birkdale that bit better.”
Ramsay also reserved praise for Englishman Andy Sullivan, who recorded the score of the day with his five-under-par 67. “His score was terrific,” said the Scot. “He was maybe three or four holes in front of me and that was when it was really coming down.
“Anything under par is great effort but that 67 is a hell of a score.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s only other postcut representative, Duncan Stewart, double bogeyed the last to chalk up a six-over-par round of 78.