Jimmy Mullen shares Alfred Dunhill Links Championship lead on debut
Saturday 3 October 2015 17:41, UK
Jimmy Mullen continued the perfect start to his professional career by holding on to a share of the lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The 21-year-old, who only turned professional last month after starring in Europe's convincing Walker Cup victory over the United States, recovered from an early blemish to post a three-under 69 at St Andrews and join Anthony Wall tied at the top of the leaderboard.
Mullen bounced back from a dropped shot at the fourth to birdie three of his next five holes and reach the turn in 34, before sandwiching a bogey at the 12th between two further gains to set the clubhouse target at 11 under.
Although the Englishman was left frustrated with missed opportunities over the closing holes, Mullen admits he's very much got one eye on a potential shock victory in Scotland.
"Every time there's a scoreboard I'm looking to see if my name's up there," Mullen told Sky Sports 4. "It's impossible not to think about it, but I'm just going to try and take care of tomorrow and see what happens.
"I don't really know what my expectations were to be honest, being my first event as a pro I was trying to enjoy it and to learn from it. I can't really explain it, it's a different experience but I'll just have to learn it as I go along.
"I know I've played the easier of the courses so I knew I had to do two good rounds for the first two rounds to take the pressure off myself. I've played Carnoustie a lot there this year, so I'll just stick to my game plan and see what I can do."
Anthony Wall posted four birdies in a row after the turn to pull alongside Mullen late in the day, while Paul Dunne, Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson, Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen and American Chris Stroud lie one shot behind.
"There's a comfort level of playing on links courses and once you get out there it does not matter if you are an amateur or a pro," Dunne said. "There is still a golf ball sitting in front of you that needs to be hit.
"I'm really not thinking about the money, the money will take care of itself. If I keep playing good golf I won't have to worry about money.
"It would be nice to get a payday at the end of the week, but we won't find that out until Sunday evening."
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The lowest rounds of the day came at Kingsbarns, with Bradley Dredge and Kiradech Aphibarnrat both shooting 63 to finish eight and six under respectively.
Defending champion Oliver Wilson, who was 792nd in the world when he won his first European Tour title 12 months ago, could only card a second consecutive 74 to lie four over par.
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