Scotsman Craig Lee produced a stunning round of 61 to take a two-shot lead at the European Masters in Switzerland on Saturday. Lee carded a 10-under round at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club to rocket up the leaderboard after shooting 11 birdies in an excellent display. Dane Thomas Bjorn, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Spaniard Alejandro Canizares are all tied for second, two shots off the pace. But the day belonged to Lee, who started his round with six consecutive birdies and never looked back. “It was comfortably my best round ever,” Lee said afterwards. “Even as an amateur or in a bounce game, I&aposve never managed to get to double figures (under par). “So this is my best round by far. You just try to focus on each shot you play though. When you hit it, and it is executed properly and you see it flying down the pin, it is pretty special. “I&aposve been playing quite nicely for a while so it has all come together.” After shooting par on the seventh, Lee responded with a hat-trick of birdies, as a round of below 60 which has never been recorded on the European Tour looked a real possibility. But a bogey on the 12th saw him drop momentum, and although he carded two more birdies straight after, he finished with four pars as he ended the day with a 61, giving him an overall score of 16 under. Of his nearest rivals, Canizares was the most impressive, shooting one eagle and five birdies in a six-under 65, while Dubuisson produced two eagles in his 66. Overnight co-leader Bjorn continued his consistent tournament with a four-under 67, as all three players finished at 14 under. The next group of players back are five shots off the pace, with Spain&aposs Miguel Angel Jimenez and England&aposs Tommy Fleetwood tied for fifth at 11 under. Both players hit scores of 69 on Saturday. Englishman Ross Fisher dazzled with one eagle and six birdies in a blemish-free round of 63, leaving him tied for seventh with American Brooks Koepka at 10 under. Scotsman Stephen Gallacher, who shared the overnight lead with Bjorn, dropped back to ninth after a 72, while English duo Paul Casey and Danny Willett round out the top 10, tied at eight under. Of the Australians in the field, Brett Rumford is the best placed in equal 12th, followed by Scott Hend and Andrew Dodt in a tie for 17th, while Marcus Fraser is further adrift in a share of 24th.
Author: Omnisport