Ewen Ferguson shoots course-record 61 at Galgorm Castle to lead by four

Ewen Ferguson set the course record at Galgorm Castle Golf Club with a spotless 61 to lead by four shots after the first round of the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Aviv Clinics.

The talented Scot carded two eagles on the back nine on Thursday afternoon, as well as firing five birdies to lead the way on nine under par and break the previous course record by a single shot.

The first of Ferguson's eagles came at the tenth, where he holed his fiddly bunker shot, while the second was from the end of the 18th fairway.

This week's event in Northern Ireland is tri-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour, with separate male and female tournaments being played on the same two courses at the same time and for two equal prize funds of US$1.5 million each.

American Amanda Doherty, also playing at Galgorm Castle on day one, led the women's tournament on six under after making seven birdies and a single bogey in her 67.

She was one clear of Ireland's Leona Maguire, England's Georgia Hall, American Lauren Coughlin and Dane Emily Kristine Pedersen - with the latter two playing their first rounds at Massereene Golf Club.

Ferguson's nearest challengers were Felix Palson, Borja Virto and Richard Bland, who all shot their 65s at Massereene.

Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champion Ferguson started brightly, rolling in from 12 feet at the first for an opening birdie before picking up another shot from a similar distance on the fourth green.

The Scot's hot putter earned him a third birdie of the day at the eighth before a wonderful up-and-down from a bunker on the next hole kept his card clean as he reached the turn.

Ferguson notched a brilliant eagle courtesy of more bunker magic at the tenth, holing out from a tricky spot to grab a share of the lead on five under.

And he soon led on his own after rolling in his 22-footer for a birdie at the 13th.

The 26-year-old then sent his tee-shot at the 14th to 13 feet before knocking in the putt to make it back-to-back birdies.

Although he could not stretch his advantage over the next few holes, Ferguson managed to keep the bogeys at bay with three successive pars on the 15th, 16th and 17th.

And he doubled his lead with another eagle at the last, holing his third shot after coming up just shy of the green in two.

Ferguson was delighted with his 61 after struggling to stay out of the bunkers in Wednesday's Pro-Am. He said: "Actually I was messaging Jamie (Gough) yesterday about a few things I wasn't doing too well yesterday in the Pro-Am.

"Played the Pro-Am with Niall (Horan) and me and Robbie Keane yesterday and I kept hitting a lot of bunkers.

"They were saying, 'You love the bunkers. See tomorrow, just try and stay out of them'.

"Today was just nice to avoid them all, which was good. Obviously a 61, so course record is pretty nice."

Ferguson has become used to firing course-record 61s after doing just that at Fairmont St Andrews last month in the 2022 Hero Open.

Doherty said staying in the moment was key to her low round on Thursday.

"I was really just trying to stay in the moment today, and I feel like I was just kind of in that mindset starting the day," said Doherty.

"I stayed there and I stayed patient. I know it's kind of cliché, but it works. I was hitting the ball well. 

"I made a couple of good putts and there were some reachable par fives, so just kind of came together."