Dane Hojgaard proves himself Great but Calum’s hot on his heels
Dane Rasmus Hojgaard carded a brilliant courserecord 62 to open up a three-shot lead heading into today’s final round of the Cazoo Classic in Kent.
The 20-year-old has been a revelation since becoming the first player born in the 21st Century to come through the European Tour’s qualifying school in 2019, claiming two wins before the age of 20 in his rookie season.
He started the day at London Golf Club six shots off the lead but made 10 birdies in a bogey-free round to get to 14-under and lead the way from Scot Calum Hill and England’s Jordan Smith.
Smith made five birdies in a row from the third on the front nine as he got to 14-under but he came home in 39 to sign for a 70.
There was no such wobble from Hojgaard, who made six birdies on the front nine to join the lead and four more coming home – including on the 17th and 18th – to take control.
“I didn’t have any clue what the course record was,” he said.
“I knew I was probably around it but I didn’t know what it was.
“I drove the ball way better today than I did in the first couple of days. So I was putting myself in position and I could be aggressive from the fairway, holed putts from everywhere basically and then I had a spell on the back nine where I was really stressed.
“We were on the clock so I probably rushed a couple of shots but then
I finished strongly so I’m very happy.”
Hill was bogey-free but managed just two birdies on the ninth and 13th in his 70 to sit a shot ahead of England’s Richard Bland and Dale Whitnell.
“Tomorrow, I need to be fractionally more lucky
on the par fives, because I had rough breaks on all of them today and didn’t manage to birdie one of them,” said Hill.
“And then if I make two more putts I will shoot eight under and win it by about three!”
Scottish pair David Drysdale and Richie Ramsay along with Wales’ Jamie Donaldson were then in the group at nineunder alongside Ryder Cup hopeful Victor Perez and Dutchman Lars Van Meijel.
Riccardo Fantinelli and Jack Bigham will today go head-to-head in the 36-hole final of The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship at Royal Cinque Ports.
Fantinelli booked his place thanks to a thirdextra-hole victory in the semi-final over Americanbased Scot Niall Shiels Donegan, winning the match on the 21st hole with a birdie four on the par-5 third.
After finishing runner-up at the Carris
Trophy in July, the 17-year-old Italian is looking to go one better in today’s final.
Defying his own expectations, the Italian had only booked accommodation up until yesterday’s matches – a problem that he is now more than happy to solve.
Bigham once again proved he is the man to beat at the Boys’ Amateur after a commanding 6&5 victory over Scotland’s Daniel Bullen to book his place in the final.