Jake and Dimi leave high
by Justin Falconer at Royal Portrush
Dimi Papadatos on day two of the 2019 Open Championship.
They will be disappointed that their first big experience has come to an end, but debutants Jake McLeod and Dimi Papadatos will leave Portrush after a strong second round in The Open.
Papadatos was the first Australian on course on Friday morning and his 1-over-72 was far from opening 83 yesterday.
"It was pretty bad yesterday, where it didn't feel so bad," said Papadatos.
"But that is clearly the learning point of the majors. The hidden pins and difficult circumstances propagate you quite quickly. And before you know it you shoot 83 or whatever it was."
The 28-year-old fought on Friday and a more disciplined approach paid off, Papadatos birdie 15 and 17 on the way back to the clubhouse to end an unforgettable week in Northern Ireland.
"I clearly spoke with my caddy, and we pointed to a few things and said that we are just trying to be a little more disciplined," Papadatos said.
"There are so many pens that you just can't be short-sided. It's not even a matter of going up and down. I made a pair of double bogeys of pin-high green-side.
"I was happy that I had a good score today and I know that today I felt like a handful of better.
"It's nice to know that I could get a good score if I brought my A game. But the B and C game was not too good this week."
It was a great learning curve for the relaxed New South Welshman, but there is no alarm for Papadatos as the end of the European and Challenge Tour season approaches.
"I certainly have a lot of work to do, certainly. It's a big step to play majors," said Papadatos.
"It is good to see where your game is. I am not disappointed where my game is but it has certainly made me realize that I still have a lot of work to do.
"I didn't come here to think I was going to kill it. I knew I got rid of some missed cuts the way it is. So it wasn't as if I was in good shape or something, but it certainly made me realize that I have to keep sharpening almost all aspects, to be honest. "
McLeod fought just as hard for his simultaneity 71, the Queenslander who rattles five birds on Friday in an eye-catching version
It started with a bogey in the first hole, but the 24-year-old was not confused about the biggest stage of the game and aimed the ship nicely on a board that he could keep at the highest level.
"There was not much wind, but when it was on the crosswinds, I got confused which way I was going and made a few wrong decisions," McLeod said.
"That kind of pain.
"It is difficult to go up and down here and there. So unlike the sort of three or four times I actually played pretty well."
The highlight of the day came to 14, when McLeod called out a roar that could be heard across the street from Royal Portrush.
"The pin was at the back left, like four on the left, and I was down that steep slope, about 15 to 20 feet below the pin," McLeod said. "To be honest, I just didn't want to make it six!
"I thought: I just throw it in the bank and let it skip" and I couldn't see it. Apparently it went well and went into it.
"It was cool. I shot a birdie-putt on the hole before. When I poured it in, I was pretty pumped."
McLeod follows Papadatos at home before finishing his rookie European Tour season after some well-deserved rest.
Hopefully one day he will look back at mixing the best of the oldest in golf, as a crucial springboard in his career
"It was weird to come in, I thought I'd wrap it up a bit," McLeod said.
"But I was very happy. I was clearly still nervous, but I was just thinking of a few other things. I will make a lot of it.
"Hopefully next time I will do a little better."
