| Fisher breaks course record at The London Golf Club
Ross Fisher’s week to remember got even better at The London Golf Club as he broke the course record to lead The European Open.
Three days after finishing joint third in the Open Championship qualifier at Sunningdale, the 27 year old finished with six successive birdies to record a spectacular nine under par 63 and break the course record set by Seve Ballesteros in 1984.
It was also the lowest round of his European Tour career.
Fisher was in the second group out at 7.40am and with ten birdies in all - and a bogey - in the windy conditions he took an early five stroke lead over the chasing pack.
David Lynn was mounting a challenge having got off to a slow start with bogies at the second and seventh, but birdies at the third, eighth, ninth, 11th and 14th moved him to three under par before an eagle at the 15th moved him into second place. Although he dropped a shot on the 16th he was still well placed.
Peter Hedblom is also on four under par alongside Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Robert Rock, Jeev Milkha Singh and Peter Hanson. Spain’s Fernandez-Castaño saw five birdies and an eagle balanced against three bogies, while Rock picked up seven birdies only to give shots back at the second, fourth and 16th holes.
Hedblom, vying for his sixth victory on The European Tour, started on the back nine and after opening with a birdie he added a second at the par five 12th. An eagle three followed on the 548 yard 15th, moving him to four under par and into a temporary lead.
Thereafter, he dropped a shot on the par three seventh, but regained it on the next hole to finish on 68.
Defending champion Colin Montgomerie finished two under par and Open Champion Padraig Harrington finished at level par, while Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose were among the later starters. |