Brandon Robinson-Thompson (-17), a 31-year-old English golfer who achieved his first and to date only victory on the circuit a year ago at the Irish Challenge, has dealt a nearly definitive blow this Saturday at the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A, the eighteenth tournament of the season on the Challenge Tour that has been taking place since Thursday at the Newmachar Golf Club in Aberdeen. An simply impressive movement day in which he has handed in a card of 62 strokes… even making a bogey!
It is true that the Hawkshill Championship Course where this event is taking place has presented more affordable conditions than in the first two competition days, with less wind and allowing more red results in the classification. But it is also true that the golfer from the Isle of Wight has offered a real recital of play, shining from tee to green and showing himself relentless with the putter. He closed his first nine holes of the day with six birdies, without error, and a bogey on the par four of the 12 not only did not slow him down but served as a stimulus to complete his round with four more birdies in the last five holes.
BRT brilliance with the putter on moving day 🪄#FarmfoodsScottishChallenge pic.twitter.com/xW1a3rkZTF
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) August 10, 2024
With his nine under par he takes the lead in the classification, with a four-stroke margin over the Dane Hamish Brown (-13) and no less than seven over the third classified, the Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan (-10). Considering his result today and that this week some 64 and 65 have already been seen on the field, his victory cannot be taken for granted. But he is undoubtedly closer than ever to making a gigantic leap that puts him in the top 10 of the Road to Mallorca to dream of the cards. Last week he already showed his good moment with a third place in Ireland and this Sunday he hopes to make the definitive blow.
For the Spaniards, a ‘moving day’ practically to forget. Only Borja Virto (-5) and Quim Vidal (-5), with cards of 70 and 69 strokes respectively, managed to play under par, placing themselves tied in 21st place in the classification three strokes from a top 10 that is presented as their goal for tomorrow. Ángel Ayora (-2), who started with options, ‘said goodbye’ to the fight with a round of 74 strokes. While Emilio Cuartero Blanco (PAR) and Alejandro Cañizares (+1) are in the lower area among the players who managed to make the cut.
