Matthew Jordan has moved within one shot of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship lead after a seven-under-par 65 at Carnoustie took the Englishman to 10 under at the halfway stage.
Jordan’s round left him tied for second with Spain’s Rocco Repetto Taylor and South Africa’s MJ Daffue. South African Casey Jarvis held outright first place on 11 under after following his opening 66 at Carnoustie with a 67 at Kingsbarns.
The result has put Jordan in a strong position heading into the tournament’s third round across St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. With two rounds remaining, Jordan’s position gives him a chance to contend for a first DP World Tour title.
Jordan recovers after late blemish
According to the DP World Tour, Jordan began his Carnoustie round with birdies at his first two holes. He then made an eagle at the par-five 14th and added another birdie at the 15th to establish momentum early in the day.
Further birdies at the fourth and fifth made Jordan the first player to reach 10 under. He later joined Jarvis at the top on 11 under before bogeying his final hole. His 65 was still five shots better than his previous best score at Carnoustie in this event, the DP World Tour reported.
Sky Sports reported that Jordan’s card contained six birdies and an eagle alongside the lone bogey. His score matched the 65 produced by defending champion Robert MacIntyre at Kingsbarns, although the Scot remained two shots further back on eight under.
Jordan’s position carries added significance because he has already contended without winning twice on the DP World Tour this season. The official tour report said he finished runner-up at both the Danish Golf Championship and Nexo Championship. His performance at Carnoustie means he will begin the closing stages with the leaders rather than needing a major recovery.
Jarvis retains narrow advantage
Jarvis reached 11 under with seven birdies and two bogeys in his Kingsbarns round. The 23-year-old regained the sole lead with a birdie at his final hole after a sequence of five pars, according to the DP World Tour.
The DP World Tour reported that Jarvis started at the 10th and made a bogey at the second before responding with three successive birdies at the 12th, 13th and 14th. A further birdie at the 16th moved him into a four-way tie before the closing changes at the top of the leaderboard.
He is pursuing a third DP World Tour win of the season, having already won the Magical Kenya Open presented by Asba and the Investec South African Open Championship. Jarvis said in the tour’s report that he had felt in control of his game during the second round, particularly with his approach play.
Repetto Taylor joined Jordan and Daffue on 10 under after the lowest round of the day, an eight-under 64 at Kingsbarns. The Spaniard made four birdies and an eagle across his back nine, while Daffue recovered from a bogey at the first at St Andrews to record a 64.
The three players immediately behind Jarvis are all chasing maiden DP World Tour titles. That leaves little separation at the top, although the tournament’s format requires some caution when comparing individual rounds: competitors have played different combinations of the three host courses over the first two days.
St Andrews next for the contenders
Jarvis is scheduled to play the Old Course at St Andrews in round three, while Jordan is due to play Kingsbarns.
MacIntyre and Brooks Koepka are tied on eight under after rounds of 65 and 67 respectively at Kingsbarns. Scotland’s Michael Stewart is also on eight under. England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are on six under, while Sam Bairstow is on nine under.
Jordan will play Kingsbarns in round three, one shot behind Jarvis and level with Repetto Taylor and Daffue.