Ewen Ferguson shoots another course record to lead on DP World Tour

Ewen Ferguson carded a course-record 9-under par 61 at Galgorm Castle Golf Club as he stormed into the lead after the first round of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics.

Ferguson also broke the course record (61) at Fairmont St Andrews in the second round of the Hero Open two weeks ago. 

Another week, another , another course record @EwboF #LTDx pic.twitter.com/xPZU5pOm9A

— COBRA Golf UK (@cobragolfuk) August 11, 2022

The Scot carded five birdies and two eagles on day one en route to an effortless 9-under 61. 

Ferguson holed out from the greenside bunker for eagle at the par-5 10th, and also chipped in for eagle on the par-5 18th. 

The practice alongside Niall Horan certainly helped. 

Chip-in eagle @EwboF

Course record 61 and leads by FOUR #WorldInvitational pic.twitter.com/S3e2fVsSLg

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 11, 2022

"I played the pro-am with Niall (Horan) and Robbie Keane yesterday and I kept hitting a lot of bunkers," said Ferguson.

"They were saying, you love the bunkers. See you tomorrow. Just try and stay out of them. Today was just nice to avoid them, which was good. Obviously a 61, so course record is pretty nice.

"It is hard to do (follow a low round), because I had that kind of situation a couple weeks ago on St Andrews when I shot 11-under and the next day the feel was quite different.

"I was thinking, Jeez, I was 7-under at this point yesterday and I'm 1-under or level. So it is hard, but at the end of the day your golf ball doesn't know what score you're on, so just keep that in mind and try and just keep doing what I'm doing."

Ferguson sits clear of Spain’s Borja Virto, Felix Palson of Sweden and Englishman Richard Bland, who each carded 5-under par rounds of 65 at Massereene, the second host venue of the innovative event.

A total of 11 players share fourth place on 4-under par, including Filippo Celli who won the Silver Medal at The 150th Open at St Andrews after finishing as low amateur and Thomas Aiken who is making his first start since the South African Open last December.

The ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics is tri-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour, with men’s and women’s tournaments played on the same courses at the same time for two equal prize funds of US$1.5million.

Competitors will each play one round at Galgorm Castle and Massereene Golf Clubs on Thursday and Friday, with the final two rounds of action taking place at Galgorm.

In the women’s competition, American Amanda Doherty carded a 6-under par 67 at Galgorm Castle to take a one-stroke lead into the second round.

She sits ahead of compatriot Lauren Coughlin and Solheim Cup players Georgia Hall, Leona Maguire and Emily Kristine Pedersen who share second on 5-under par.