Scots playing cards right in tour bid

MacIntyreandSymesoclose

With one round remaining at the qualifying school’s final stage, Drumoig’s Connor Syme and Oban’s Robert MacIntyre are on course to earn European Tour cards.

The pair, who represented Great Britain and Ireland in September’s Walker Cup match before turning professional, will earn European Tour cards for the 2018 season if they remain inside the top 25 and ties following the end of today’s play at Lumine Golf Club in Spain.

Syme is tied third on 14 under par following a fifth round 67, having made only one bogey in his past three rounds at the Tarragona course.

He said: “I didn’t quite play as well as I had over the last couple of days but that is what you have to expect at a six-round event.

“It was the first time that I have had a scorecard in my hands for five days in a row but I am delighted with the position I am in and hopefully I can continue playing well.

“It is so difficult as there are so many good players this week and all you can control is yourself.

“It is not in my hands though and I can’t control how anyone plays in the final round. I need to keep doing what I am doing and that will be hopefully be enough.”

MacIntyre finished with a flourish with an eagle at the 18th to move to tied 17th spot on 11-under following a 66.

Aberdeen’s David Law (-9) is in tied 31st position after a two-under par 69, while Scott Henry, the fourth Scot who survived the four round cut, moved up to five under overall after a 68.

Englishman Sam Horsfield is top of the leaderboard on 19 under par after a 67. The 21-year-old from Manchester was one of 10 players who have gone all the way from the qualifying school’s first round to making the cut at final stage. By close of play today, he will have played a mammoth 252 holes.