Friday 21 August 2015 19:31, UK
David Horsey equalled the lowest nine holes of the European Tour season to move one-shot clear after the opening round of the Made In Denmark.
Starting on the back nine, the world No 274, who had only registered one top-10 finish in 18 starts this season, fired seven birdies and an eagle during an impressive first round 63 to set the early pace ahead of Oliver Farr at Himmerland.
After holing his third shot from 130 yards at the par-five 11th, Horsey went on a run of five consecutive birdies from the 13th to reach the turn in just 28.
A birdie at the second increased Horsey's chances of recording the European Tour's first ever 59 round, but a three-putt par at the fourth and a dropped shot at the par-four next ended any hopes. Horsey found the sixth green in two but could only tap-in for birdie and went on to close his round with three straight pars.
"Things started to click, I had a strategy and plan going out there and just stuck to it," Horsey told Sky Sports 4. "I managed to keep it that way until the middle of the back nine when the magic number started creeping in to my head.
"I got a little distracted by that, but I steadied the ship and finished strong so I'm very pleased with that."
Farr held a share of the lead after picking up seven shots during a remarkable six-hole stretch on the front nine, but ended in outright second after closing a seven-under 64 with a third-putt bogey at the par-four ninth.
Paul Lawrie rolled back the years with a bogey-free 65 to card his best round since 2013, while home favourite Soren Kjeldsen, who received a commemorative bucket ahead of the tournament to mark passing 500 European Tour appearances, is part of the group a further stroke off the pace.
"It's my lowest round on the European Tour, which is nice to say," Farr said. "The course wasn't for the taking, you had to hit a lot of good shots and good putts.
"I've put myself in a great position for this tournament now and I've been playing nicely. I've had three weeks off, so I've been ready to get back out here and play."
Bradley Dredge birdied five of his opening six holes to join Kjeldsen three adrift of Horsey, with John Parry also opening with a five-under 66 after posting his only bogey of the day at the last.
European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke recovered from carding a double-bogey at the first to open with a two-under 69, with Matt Fitzpatrick also in that group despite firing two eagles during his first round.
A triple-bogey at the last halted defending champion Marc Warren's steady start to his title defence, with the Scot finishing a disappointing level par.
Watch the second round of the Made In Denmark from 10.30am on Friday live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf
