Forrest fires 62 but who’ll be the Hero?
Grant Forrest produced a brilliant 62 to take a share of the third-round lead with fellow Scot Calum Hill at the Hero Open.
There has not been home winner in Scotland on the European Tour since Paul Lawrie won the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, but Forrest and Hill have improved the prospects after climbing to 18-under-par at Fairmont St Andrews yesterday.
Forrest began the day seven shots behind overnight leader Lucas Bjerregaard and his chances of challenging at the top of the leaderboard looked remote following an opening bogey.
But the 28-year-old responded with a brilliant birdie burst around the turn, which he continued on the back nine, to match the course record of 62 – which was set by Denmark’s Bjerregaard in the second round – to set the clubhouse lead.
Hill started strongly and held a two-shot advantage early in the round but Forrest’s birdie run saw him trail his countryman by two strokes with four holes to play after bogeys at the 10th and 14th.
Hill, who was born less than 25 miles from the course, regained his composure with birdies at the 15th and 18th to join his compatriot at the summit, with fellow Scot David Law in close proximity at 16 under.
“It’s great. They’ve (Law and Hill) played really solid all year, Dave especially recently as well. To play at St Andrews, the home of golf, and to have three Scots up there is great,” Forrest said.
“Today I changed my putting grip and made pretty much everything and I think Lucas’ (Bjerregaard) putter has rubbed off me a little bit. I just hit lots of really good putts today. It’s tough making putts in that wind, you need a little bit of luck and I got that so I’m delighted.
“I’ve been feeling confident in my game so I’m just trying to trust that, and trust that the good scores are going to come along.”
Hill birdied the second just as playing partner Bjerregaard double bogeyed the same hole to sit at the top of the leaderboard.
An eagle at the next saw the 26-year-old extend his lead to two as Bjerregaard picked up a shot and the Scot climbed to 18 under after birdies at the sixth and seventh.
Forrest, following an opening bogey, made his move with a gain at the third before carding six straight birdies from the sixth. He missed another birdie putt at the 12th but picked up another shot at the next.
Hill slipped to 16 under after dropping his first two shots of the week, while Forrest was at the summit on his own after gains at the 15th and 16th.
He briefly extended the lead to two shots with his 11th birdie of the day at the last, but Hill joined him at 18 under par with late gains.
“I played really nice. It was difficult to make putts when it got windy,” Hill said. “I think that halted my score a little as today was my best ballstriking round but yeah, very happy.
“This is what you play for isn’t it? I’m looking forward to it, especially with a home crowd and family watching, I’ll be giving it my best.”
Spaniard Santiago Tarrio is the Scottish duo’s closest rival at 17-under, with Law and twotime European Tour winner Bjerregaard one shot further back.