Brandon Robinson Thompson threatened to card the second ’59 spherical’ in DP World Tour historical past on his technique to a three-shot lead on the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship.
Two eagles and three birdies took Robinson Thompson to the flip in 29 at Royal Golf Membership and a run of 5 birdies in six holes from the twelfth left him needing to birdie the final to interrupt the 60 barrier.
Nonetheless, after lacking the green and the inexperienced on the 443-yard par 4, the 32-year-old dropped his solely shot of the day and needed to accept an 11-under-par 61, setting a brand new course file.
“I didn’t really picture it this morning when it was raining and there was a forecast for super strong winds, so very happy to get off to the start that I did,” Robinson Thompson stated.
“A little bit of a sour taste in my mouth (with the bogey on 18), I’m not going to lie, but I holed my fair share.”
Requested when he first thought of matching Oliver Fisher’s 59 within the 2018 Portugal Masters, Robinson-Thompson added: “After about 9 holes, after which I hit it to 4 ft on 10.
“Sadly I missed that one but it surely was simply an accumulation of a variety of good decision-making and execution.
“I wouldn’t say it was perfect by a long ways, but I was smart when I had to be and hit a couple of shots to 25, 30, 35 feet and luckily made a couple of those.
“I feel it is my lowest spherical as an expert, not to mention on the DP World Tour, so it must be up there as first or second (career-best), other than perhaps a Sunday to shut out a Problem Tour occasion final 12 months.”
Brandon Robinson Thompson grabbed a three-shot lead in Bahrain
Fellow Englishman Callum Tarren was Robinson Thompson’s nearest challenger on eight beneath par following a bogey-free 64, with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, France’s Martin Couvra and Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen all on six beneath.
Former Ryder Cup gamers Ross Fisher and Rafa Cabrera Bello are each within the group on 5 beneath and tied-seventh, whereas defending champion Dylan Frittelli carded a two-under-par 70. Thorbjorn Olesen – the highest-ranked participant within the subject – struggled to a three-over 75.
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