England’s Andrew Butterfield made European Challenge Tour history by becoming the first player to shoot an official 60 as his fellow countryman Benn Barham completed a wire-to-wire victory in the Open Mahou de Madrid at La Herreria Club de Golf.
Barham closed with a four under par 67 for a 21 under par winning total of 263, earning a cheque for €19,200 to move to seventh on the Challenge Tour Rankings, while Butterfield played the round of his life to make a dramatic climb from tied 27th to a finishing position of tied fifth thanks to that stunning 11 under par score.
Three players had previously shot 61 on the Challenge Tour while Welshman Bradley Dredge carded a 60 in the dual ranking Madeira Island Open in 2003, but that score was unofficial due to preferred lies being in operation.
Butterfield’s previous best score on the Challenge Tour was a 65 and it has proved to be a wonderful week for the Londoner, who shot 65-70 to claim the 12th qualifying place at The Open Championship Qualifier at Sunningdale on Monday, celebrated his 33rd birthday on Friday and wrapped up a fine seven days with his 60.
He said: This is my best round ever – and it as almost a 59. On the18th I hit a five wood and seven iron and a chip from 50 feet which went very close. I feel fantastic. I have been working hard all year and it to happen is fantastic.
"I had a great start with three birdies and felt very confident. I was tired the whole week but today I felt relaxed and confident. I played 36 holes on Monday in The Open Qualifier at Sunningdale and qualified for St Andrews, had a practise round here on Wednesday and now four rounds in the tournament, so it's been a long week, but a great one.
“I played the Sunshine Tour I South Africa during the winter and finished 40th on their Order of Merit, and this has helped by Challenge Tour Ranking and the chance to achieve my goal of winning my card for The European Tour. At least this is helping.”
Meanwhile Barham’s own brilliant week continued as he finished four shots clear of Sweden’s Fredrik Widmark, who finished with a 64 for a 17 under par total of 267,
with Andres Romero of Argentina and Spain’s Tomas Jesus Muñoz sharing third on 268.
The 29 year old was winning his second Challenge Tour title, following a success in the 2001 NCC Open. In his final round, Barham picked up five shots, off-set by one bogey, to lift his total birdie haul to 21 for the four rounds.
He said: "It's been a great week. It is tough when you lead from the first day - I've never done it before. After the first round it was my goal and I achieved it. It's fantastic.
"Today I didn't relax too much. I played well, again kept the ball in play. I birdied the eighth, ninth, tenth and 11th, and it kept me in there.
"I've made two bogeys all week, with three putts each time. Tee to green was great. I was always three or four shots ahead and I went out trying to make as many birdies as possible.
"I've moved up in the Order of Merit. It's a bit relief but there is still a long way to go, and I have to play well. Next week I will be on my holidays and this was a nice way to sign off."
