Back-9 blitz gives Horsey Denmark lead

England's David Horsey blitzed the back nine at the Made in Denmark EPGA tournament with a 28 which helped him to an 18-hole 63 and the first-round lead on Thursday.

Teeing off at the 10th, his back-nine surge, featuring an eagle at the 11th and then five consecutive birdies from the 13th, equalled the lowest nine holes on the European Tour this year.

He looked set for a first-ever 59 in Tour history when he birdied the second, but the three-time European Tour winner's hopes suffered when he bogeyed the fifth and missed an eagle putt on the sixth.

"It's always fabulous to get off to a start like that," said Horsey, who is eight under par and holds a one-shot lead over Wales's Oliver Farr.

"I holed my third shot on the 11th from 130 yards to make eagle, then I had five birdies in a row from the 13th, so it was a very good first nine.

"It was a little disappointing not to make a few more on the front nine -– my back nine -– but eight-under 63 is a great score.

"The magic number crept into my head going down the fourth -– my 13th -– and I wouldn't say it affected me too much but I three-putted, then made a mess of the next hole.

"After that it was just about getting to my strategy and finishing strongly, and I managed to do that.

"I'm pleased with how I handled myself in that situation, and you don't get many opportunities to shoot 59, so I can probably be excused for letting it creep in."

Scotland's Paul Lawrie is third overnight, two shots off the lead, after a bogey-free 65 gave him his lowest round in more than two years.
Source: AFP