The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
MacIntyre’ s Tour boost
Oban man’s second round has him 14th in projected rankings
Oban’s Robert MacIntyre boosted his chances of playing on the European Tour next season with a superb second round in the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final.
The Glencruitten member carded a six under par 66 to move up 14 places into tied sixth position in the season-ending event.
MacIntyre is 13th in the Challenge Tour rankings with the top 15 players at the end of this week’s event earning promotion to the top tour. It could have been even better for the Oban golfer had it not been for a bogey at the last but he was pleased with his day’s work, which left him 14th in the projected end of season rankings.
He said: “I three-putted the last from 45 feet – you tend to three putt them more than you one putt them but apart from that it was a great round.
“The pins are brutal this week and it isn’t easy to get close to the hole so you have to play smart golf.
“I just have to try and win this golf tournament this week. I know if I can do what I can do then the rest will take care of itself.”
Aberdeen’s David Law also remains well positioned in the race to land one of the 15 European Tour spots.
The 27-year-old, who is 12th in the rankings, shot a second successive round of 69 to finish the day in tied eighth position and 13th in the projected rankings.
He said: “I made a better start to the round and was three under through eight and then bogeyed nine and 11. It is tough around the turn but after that I birdied the par-5 14th and holed from off the green for another birdie on 15.
“I three-putted 16 which was annoying but I came back and birdied 17.
“I am aware that guys around me in the rankings are doing well but I’m not in a position that I’m hoping others do poorly.
“I am in a position where I know if I do well then it will be fine.”
Sean Crocker fired a course record-equalling 64 at Al Hamra Golf Club to join Adri Arnaus on top of the leaderboard at the tournament’s halfway point.
The American carded seven birdies against a lone bogey before chipping in for eagle at the last to sign for the eight under par score, which equals the course record set by Marcel Schneider and Jurrian van der Vaart in the European Challenge Tour’s most recent trip to Ras Al Khaimah last year.
Dumfries’ Liam Johnston, who is 10th in the rankings, is tied 11th on five under, while Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest, who is also inside the coveted top 15 in eighth spot, is tied 16th for the tournament on three under after rounds of 71 and 70.
Calum Hill (-2) and Ewen Ferguson (-1), the other two Scots in the field, are tied 18th and 28th respectively.