Golf: Drysdale shows bottle in barnstorming round

Published on Saturday 3 October 2009 11:15

NOT for the first time this season, Lothians golfer David Drysdale showed some bottle to give himself a chance of making the last round in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The 34-year-old from Dunbar had left himself facing an uphill task after a three-over-par opening round at St Andrews in the big-money event. But he bounced back with a five-under 67 at Kingsbarns to put him in the running to be among the top 60 and ties at the end of the third round.

Drysdale's second-day effort moved him into a tie for 77th and another good round at Carnoustie today would surely see him make the final round over the Old Course.

Starting at the tenth yesterday, he stated his intentions straight away with an opening birdie and picked up two more – at the 14th and 17th – before dropping his first shot of the day at the 18th.

He was back to just one under for the round after taking another bogey at the short second but was soon in his stride again after an eagle at the next and a birdie at the fourth. His roller-coaster round continued when a bogey went on his card at the sixth but two birdies in the final three holes completed a fine day's work.

That was also the case for Alastair Forsyth, who partnered Drysdale in Estonia last week as they closed with a 66 to take Scotland into the World Cup in China later this year.

Also playing at Kingsbarns, Forsyth shot an eight-under 64 to move to ten-under for the tournament -– one behind co-leaders Richie Ramsay, Rory McIlroy and Michael Hoey.

Forsyth revealed afterwards that Bathgate's Stephen Gallacher, a former winner of the event but currently sidelined due to illness, had been one of the first people to congratulate him on his effort.

"I just got a text from Stephen so say 'well done and good luck'," said Forsyth, who revealed that Gallacher had been up in Fife earlier in the week to have dinner with both him and Gary Orr.

"He seems to be fine and fit again," added the Paisley man. "He's just starting to do some chipping and putting and hopefully he'll be back in time for the Tour School. It will be good to see him back next year."

While Gallacher will get to play in a certain number of events on the main Tour next season under a medical exemption, he's decided to go to the Tour School as a back-up.

Wallace Booth, who passed the first stage in his bid to make it to the Tour School after turning professional after the recent Walker Cup, is giving a good account of himself on his first appearance in the paid ranks.

Playing on a sponsor's invite this week, the former Scottish Stroke Play champion stormed up the leaderboard thanks to a seven-under-par 65 that left him just four off the pace at the halfway stage.

"Knowing I'm going to the second stage of the Tour School has taken a little of the pressure off me and I came into this week aiming to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy it," said Booth.

Keir McNicoll, another of the new Scottish professional recruits, is also well placed on four-under, having followed his opening 68 at St Andrews with a 72 at Kingsbarns.

But Gavin Dear, one of Booth's team-mates in Scotland's Eisenhower Trophy-winning team last year, won't be making the cut after a second successive 76 left him with only one player below him on the scoreboard.