English Robert Rock is the new leader of the Scottish Open, of the European Golf Circuit, which takes place at The Renaissance club in North Berwick in Aberdeen, after delivering a card with 71 strokes (+1), and a total of 204 (-9), in a third day marked by bad weather, with rain from beginning to end, and where the Spanish Andri Arnaus, with 67 (-4) signed one of the best routes of the day.
Without a doubt, the weather marked a gray and wet day. The continuous falling rain (the liquid element did not stop falling at any time) was the main handicap that some players had to face that, accompanied by the umbrella, they saw how large puddles formed in some streets that looked like lakes put by the designer of the field. And that the assists, brush in hand, continually tried to alleviate it by draining areas, especially on the greens.
In these difficult conditions, it is not surprising that only 17 of the 66 players in the contest turned in a card below par (71).And the ones who benefited the most, or who suffered the least, were undoubtedly the veterans, those who have been on their backs for many years as professionals, and have already fought battles with adverse weather conditions.
These are the cases of Robert Rock, who started a blow from then first in the classification, the Australian Lucas Herbert, who was shipwrecked in the water and left at 79 (+8), and that he climbed to the top of a tournament that sees how each day premieres leader; or his compatriot Ian Poulter, who became a virtual leader but who was choked in the final stretch, finishing two impacts, in a shared second position.
Rock, 43 years old with two victories on the European Tour, and Poulter, 44 years old and 12 victories on the Tour, a second and two third in the ‘majors’, fifth in the world in 2010 and five participations in the Ryder Cup, Curiously, they were one of the many who did not win the field, as they handed out cards with 72 (+1) and 73 (+2) hits, but they did know how to reduce the damage to face the last day with every option to win.
The British Tommy Fleetwood also got within two strokes of the leader., only 29 years old but already won five tournaments of the Circuit. Little by little, since he did not reach the top, he got into the second quartet thanks to a third card with 69 hits (-2).
One of the few who sailed with a good wind on the water was Adri Arnaus, his card with 67 strokes is the lowest of the day, shared with two other players: Gavin Green from Malaysia and Marcus Kinhult from Sweden, both tied with the Spaniard in sixth place, with 208, four from the lead. Therefore, with options of triumph.
Barcelona’s Pablo Larrazábal sank, the best card on Friday, but this Saturday with a 76 (+5) that has sunk him in the classification, with 212. The Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti, who also shone on the second day, was another of those affected by the rain and went to a 75 (+4), which also left him with his option, with his 211.
