LANSDOWNE, SCOTLAND (May 28, 2011) -- Australian Daniel Nisbet produced a fine four-under par 68 to close within one shot of leader Andrew Sullivan after day two of the Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship at a blustery Blairgowrie.
Nisbet, a 20-year-old from Brisbane, began his round brightly picking up shots at the opening two holes and finished in style with a hatrick of birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to move to seven-under par for the championship on 137, with his only blemish coming at the tenth hole.
The former Australian number one amateur, over the in the UK for the next month where he’ll play the St Andrews Links Trophy, Amateur Championship and the Brabazon, is enjoying his experience of Scotland, despite his indifference to the conditions.
“It’s a really nice course but the weather sucks,” he joked at the conclusion of his second successive sub-70 round. “It’s been very windy but it’s the same for everyone so you’ve just got to go out there and enjoy it. I certainly can’t complain being over here golfing in Scotland as I could be back working in a bar in Australia.” added the Queenslander.
Englishman Sullivan held onto his overnight lead with a solid one-under par 71 to add to his impressive opening 65. He birdied the first and the fifth but relinquished his lead after dropping shots at 2, 9 and 10. However, the Nuneaton man bounced back with further birdies at 12 and 16 to finish on 136, eight-under par going into tomorrow’s final day.
Hampshire’s Jonathan Watt, whose parents are both from Clarkston, fired a three-under par 69 for the second day in a row to move into third place just two off the lead. The University of Stirling graduate, who played in the student team as European Tour star Richie Ramsay, hit birdies at the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 10th, with his only dropped shot coming at the seventh.
The Scottish challenge was led by the host club’s Glenn Campbell, who chipped in at the last for a spectacular birdie-birdie finish to post his second successive 70, leaving him in a share of fourth spot on four-under par. Campbell, the 2005 Scottish Amateur Champion, was playing in his second round of the day having teed off at 7.30am this morning in his Club Championship qualifying on the neighbouring Rosemount course.
“I bogeyed 15 which was disappointing so to finish with two birdies, especially the chip in at the last, was a nice way to end the way. Obviously winning an event like this on my home course would be very special so hopefully it will be more of the same tomorrow. After today, at least I’ll be used to playing two rounds in a day!” said 38-year-old Campbell.
Wentworth’s Steven Brown produced a joint best-of-the-day 67 to join Campbell and Oliver Farr on 140, one clear of Pollok teenager James Hendrick who fired five birdies in a two-under par 70.
A steady 71 from Scotland international Kris Nicol put him in the top ten on two-under par, the same mark as Mortonhall’s Greg Nicholson who fired a 70 in the first match of the day. Walker Cup hopeful Rhys Enoch was five-under par for his round to join them on 142 alongside 21-year-old Glaswegian Mark Bookless, who won the Scottish Boys Stroke Play at the same course three years ago.
Kirkhill’s Paul Shields fought back well on the back nine to post a 73 for 144 however James White, second place overnight, slipped back to level par after a disappointing 77.
ABOUT THE Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play
The Scottish Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play
Championship is open to Male Amateur
Golfers
of
all Nationalities. 72-hole stroke play
championship.
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