Knightly one stroke off the pace in St Andrews Links Trophy
Royal Dublin’s Richard Knightly was just one stroke off the lead heading into the third round of the St Andrews Links Trophy at St Andrews.
The 2014 South of Ireland semi-finalist followed a five-under 67 on the Jubilee Course with a one-under 71 on the Old Course to go into the last two rounds tied for second with England’s Josh Hill and Scotland’s Rory Franssen on six-under.
He was a shot adrift of England’s Charlie Thornton, who followed a 66 on the Jubilee with a 71 on the Old Course.
Matthew McClean (70/73) and Castle’s Robert Moran (75/68) were tied 19th on one-under as the cut for the top 40 and ties fell at two-over 146.
Hugh O’Hare and Marc Boucher (150), Irish Close champion Hugh Foley (151) and Shaun Carter (152) missed the cut.
Knightly, McClean and Moran are bidding to follow in the footsteps of Justin Rose (1997) and Ireland’s Alan Dunbar (2009), Conor O’Rourke (2016) and John Murphy (2018) as winners of this prestigious title.
St Andrews Links Trophy, St Andrews (Jubilee/Old, both par 72)
137 Charlie Thornton (ENG) 66(J) 71(O)
138 Richard Knightly (IRL) 67(J) 71(O), Josh Hill (ENG) 70(J) 68(O)
139 Rory Franssen (SCO) Auchterarder Golf Club 69(J) 70(O), George Burns (SCO) Williamwood Golf Club 68(J) 71(O), Jack Dyer (ENG) 68(J) 71(O)
140 Darren Howie (SCO) Peebles Golf Club 73(J) 67(O)
141 Ben Quinney (ENG) 69(J) 72(O), Robin Williams (ENG) 71(J) 70(O), Mark Halliday (SCO) Deeside Golf Club 71(J) 70(O), Callan Barrow (ENG) 74(J) 67(O), Sam Bairstow (ENG) 73(J) 68(O)
143 Matthew McClean (NIR) 70(J) 73(O), Robert Moran (IRL) 75(J) 68(O)
CUT
150 Hugh O’Hare (IRL) 74 (J) 76 (O), Marc Boucher (IRL) 74 (J) 76 (O)
151 Hugh Foley (IRL) 70 (J) 81 (O)
152 Shaun Carter (IRL) 78 (J) 74 (O)
