Hopes of seeing a first home winner lifting the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship trophy since Colin Montgomerie’s 2005 success remain promising at the halfway stage of the £4million tournament with three Scots inside the top five.
Kinross’ Calum Hill highlighted why he is topping the Challenge Tour rankings and set to be playing on the main tour next season after backing up a 66 at Kingsbarns with a 65 around the Old Course.
The 24-year-old heads to Carnoustie tied second on 13 under and only one shot adrift of pacesetter Matthew Jordan, who is bidding to become the fifth English victor in seven years.
But there are three saltires near the top of the leaderboard and firmly in contention following a rain-soaked second day of play with Russell Knox and Richie Ramsay well placed heading in tied fifth position.
Hill, sitting 126th in the world rankings by virtue of his Challenge Tour success, is determined to use this week’s event to prove he has what it takes when he makes the step up to the European Tour in the 2020 campaign.
He said: “The plan was always to graduate from the Challenge Tour this year.
“Being in the number one spot is as good as I could have hoped for.
“I was hoping to be in the top 15 but you are always aiming to be the top person. It doesn’t always go your way and it’s just happened to fall my way this year. I always set goals that are quite high and I’m managing to achieve them at the moment, which is quite nice.”
Hill’s two victories on the Challenge Tour this season – at the Euram Bank Open in July and the Made in Demark Challenge in August – mean Knox and Robert MacIntyre are the only Scots above him in the world rankings.
A high finish at the Old Course on Sunday would move him well inside the top 100 and provide a perfect platform to make the transition to the European Tour next term.
He said: “I was a bit surprised at where I was in the rankings but it’s nice to be working up that way.
“If I can get into a similar position by the start of next season and then start well, it could put me in a great position for next year.
“Hopefully I’m setting a really good foundation to have a promising year.
“I’ve not played Carnoustie yet but I have played nicely over the first two days.
“I played Carnoustie in practice for the first time on Wednesday and it was fantastic.
“I quite like it because it’s a bit like playing chess.
“I’ve heard it’s not going to be too windy, so it should be good fun.”
Inverness golfer Knox impressed with the joint lowest round of the day at Carnoustie with a six-under 66 and will be hoping to take advantage of the birdie opportunities on offer at Kingsbarns in his third round.
Knox, making his debut in the event, said: “I’m thrilled with the day.
“Carnoustie is the hardest of the courses so to shoot six under was definitely a bonus.
“I knew anything under par would be good.
“I’m going to go to Kingsbarns and see how low I can go.
“It is fun to play three great courses when you can shoot good scores.
“I just need to go out and be super-aggressive and see where I finish.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed staying in St Andrews with my wife.
“We’ve been able to walk around and eat dinner. It’s a very relaxing week and everybody I spoke to from the European Tour said the same thing.
“It is a very enjoyable tournament and I will definitely come back.”
Glasgow’s Scott Jamieson is tied 21st on nine under after a 66 at St Andrews, while Robert MacIntyre moved up to tied 42nd with a 66 at Kingsbarns. Liam Johnston and Euan Walker sit six under after rounds at St Andrews and Carnoustie and on track to make the cut.
David Law (-4), Stephen Gallacher (-3), Grant Forrest (-2) and David Drysdale (level) will require a good score today to make the final round at the Old Course.