Byrne still in command despite Law’s superb 63

HIS OLD mate David Law did his utmost to put the pressure on and will try again today but James Byrne enters the final round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open in complete command.

The two former Scottish amateur stars will play together in the final round at Meldrum House after Law’s astonishing 63 in the swirling winds but Byrne has a whopping six-shot advantage as he zeroes in on his first win as a professional.

Law, the defending champion from when he was still an amateur last year, made huge strides in one of the rounds of the year which included seven birdies and an eagle, but Byrne has victimised the vulnerable par fives on the course near Inverurie and did so again yesterday.

The 23-year-old from Banchory had some adventures yesterday but still recorded a third successive 66 for 12-under figures, extending his overnight lead from two shots to six ahead of Law, David Orr and Jason McCreadie in second.

“It’ll be fun to play with David because although we’ve played together many times I don’t think we’ve ever gone head-to-head in a tournament before,” said Byrne.

“He was a couple of years behind me coming up and his score today was just exceptional because it was the toughest conditions we’ve had all week.”

All of Byrne’s 12- under f igures have come through making use of the par fives and he eagled the 11th and 16th yesterday, although the former came in odd circumstances, hitting the flag on the fly with his hybrid approach but holing the 40-foot putt that resulted.

After another fine eagle on the 16th, Byrne’s dander was clearly up as he tried to fade a high three-wood to the short par four 17th, clipped the branches of a tree and saw his ball drop just 100 yards from the tee.

“I wasn’t really being aggressive because that’s an easy shot for me to hit, but there was no harm done because I managed to get on and two putt for par,” he continued.

“I’ve just stuck to the gameplan I know round here having played so many times, and you can really attack the par fives without having to be too aggressive.

“I do feel comfortable around this course and the confidence I’m getting from this could not be better timed, because I go back to the Asian Tour on Saturday and we have the first stage of the Tour School coming up.”

The 21-year-old Law has a win in his professional rookie season already on the minor EPD Tour in Morocco back in April, but he too was looking for a confidence boost with key dates at the Kazakhstan Open – the top-paying event on the Challenge Tour – and his date at Q school coming up, and most of his peers were stunned at his score in yesterday’s conditions.

On his way to winning last year Law broke open the field with a third-round 62, and he had a similar risk-all gameplan yesterday.

“I knew that I was miles behind and a low score was what I needed, so there was no sense in hanging back I actually was flushing it in the second round but I couldn’t buy a putt until I did some work last night which seems to have helped.”

Law also had the advice of his mentor Paul Lawrie, getting an hour-long short game lesson at the new Golf Centre in Aberdeen the new Johnnie Walker champion has recently taken over as the base for his Foundation.

“It was amazing of him to give me some time just a few hours after he dealt with everything on winning at Gleneagles, and it’s certainly been a great help,” he added.

“I watched him for every hole on the last two days there and it was a masterclass on how to win from the front.”

Orr, a former Scottish Professional champion produced another 66 to move up to joint second while McCreadie, twice winner of the Northern Open returned a 68 to stay in touch.

Greig Hutcheon was also in the hunt until he dropped three shots in the last three holes and is now seven off the lead.

The Scottish Boys strokeplay champion Greg Marchbank took over the lead for the Bookless Cup for top amateur with a five-under 65.

James Byrne lines up a putt on his way to a third successive 66.

Leader Gregory Bourdy.