STICK IT TO 'EM

Shinty helped Bob win Scots Open... now big hitter Chris' lacrosse past is proving handy

- CRAIG SWAN

MUSCLEMAN Chris Gotterup flexed his bulging biceps to beat up the Renaissance.

The power-packed American launched constant haymakers to shoot a course recordequalling 61 and seize the halfway Scottish Open lead.

He's two shots clear of England's Henry Hall with Ludvig Aberg one further shot back alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge.

Bob MacIntyre won the event 12 months ago having grown up playing shinty - and Gotterup used brute force carved from once swinging his own stick playing lacrosse.

The 25-year-old belied his world No.158 ranking to slaughter the Scots venue and said: "I like to think I've got a pretty powerful game. I grew up learning to basically hit the ball as hard as I could and then figure it out from there.

"I've probably bulked up a little too much and gotten a bit heavier than I would like. But I feel I have good touch as well.

"I played lacrosse when I was younger and that definitely helps with my swing speed.

"It's a similar type of motion where you just try to rip it as hard as you can." It was put to Gotterup about MacIntyre's shinty play and he added: "I don't know a whole lot about that. But I guess it's similar to lacrosse in the sense you need to be tough." Gotterup went out in 29 and the magical score of 59 was a possibility at one stage. But he said: "I wasn't really thinking too much about 59.

"To shoot 61 is still pretty cool, it's actually my lowest ever round in tournament golf.

"It was one of those that started pretty quiet, not many people around watching us.