Connor Syme still on a roll at Celtic Manor as he eyes maiden Tour win

Fifer leads in Wales again
Connor Syme is in again in contention at Celtic Manor. Picture: Andrew Redington/GettyConnor Syme is in again in contention at Celtic Manor. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty
Connor Syme is in again in contention at Celtic Manor. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty

Connor Syme rose to the challenge in some of the toughest conditions he’s played in to stay at the head of affairs at the halfway stage in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

Six days after being out in front after 54 holes in the Celtic Classic at the same venue, the 25-year-old Fifer is holding the outright lead again but this time with 36 holes to go.

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After backing up an opening 66 with a 70 to sit on six-under, Syme is two shots ahead of a group that includes fellow Scot Liam Johnston after he stormed into contention with a 68.

“That was brutal,” said Syme of the conditions at the Newport venue. “I thought yesterday was tough but going through what we went through there, we got quite lucky yesterday to be honest. It was a real grind, that was some of the hardest conditions I’ve played in.

“Practising on the putting green, it was moving a lot so I wasn’t sure if we were going to get started, but I’m delighted with 70 today. I don’t really feel like I had my best stuff but it’s hard in the wind.

“I holed a couple of nice ones but really trusted my pace putting and that was the key to a solid score in that wind.”

Syme, who finished third behind Sam Horsfield in the Celtic Classic, is chasing a maiden European Tour win, as well as a place in next month’s US Open through the UK Swing Order of Merit. “Obviously it’s a course I’m getting to like. I’m really just rolling with the same confidence from last week,” he added.

“I’d say the US Open was definitely one of my goals once I’d started the UK Swing. To put myself into a position to do that is obviously great, but it’s not something you can really think about, there’s so much that can happen.

“Obviously I’m just trying to finish as high up the leaderboard as I can and the rest will take care of itself, but there’s still a lot of golf to be played.”

Johnston carded five birdies to sit in a group that includes China’s Haotong Li (66) and England’s Jordan Smith, who had shared the overnight lead with Syme. “I’m delighted,” said Johnston, who lost his main tour card at the end of last season, of his day’s work.

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“I hit my irons great, kept it in play off the tee with my driver. I had a couple of three putts in there, too. I would have snatched someone’s hand off for three under.”

Bob MacIntyre just made the cut after following an opening 68 with a 78.

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