Gary Orr shot a blistering ten under par 62 to set a new course record on the Duke’s course at Woburn and move into the halfway lead in the Victor Chandler British Masters at 15 under par.
His round equalled the lowest round on the European Tour this year as he moved from three behind pre-tournament favourite Colin Montgomerie into a one-stroke lead over Zimbabwe’s Mark McNulty, who shot a second successive 65.
Montgomerie added a 69 to his opening 64 to lie four off the pace but Orr's remarkable effort eclipsed everything else.
After three early birdies Orr chipped in from 30 feet for eagle at the long 18th - his ninth - and then had a hat-trick of further birdies from the fourth. He hit a six-iron to eight feet and holed on the 177-yard eighth he needed one more birdie to beat the 63 set by Peter Baker in 1993 and matched by Woosnam the following year.
It did not look on when Orr blocked his final drive behind some trees. But then came the icing on the cake. A chip and run with a three iron from 130 yards around the trees finished only inches away after lipping out to complete an outstanding round.
"I didn't know whether to hook it or cut it," he said. "It was only 130 yards to the pin, but either way I had to bend it about 10 yards. I could have easily made bogey and that would have left a sour taste," he added. "To make birdie was amazing really."
It was a remarkable change of fortune for Orr, who won his first European Tour title with victory in the Algarve Portuguese Open earlier in the season but pulled out of the TNT Dutch Open a fortnight ago after only two holes because of a bad back.
Yesterday McNulty said he could shoot a 75 and his target at the start of the week was just to make the cut following a few swing changes with coach David Leadbetter. Instead he finds himself just a shot off the pace.
“I don’t think I’ve ever shot 65, 65 on a course of this quality and been one behind,” he said. “I am very happy to be one shot behind, because when you’ve shot a couple of scores like I have I am obviously delighted. When I started yesterday I had one goal in mind. David and I planned just to make the cut. Okay I’ve done a little better than make the cut, but that’s life. When you’ve done things in the past with your swing I’ve been lucky enough to call on the computer and bring it out and I’ve hit a lot of quality shots, I must admit myself, and I’m very happy. The golf course is playing the same today, a bit shorter, great nick and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
Montgomerie is three further back after a back nine of 38. “It was four shots too many and that is why I am four behind,” he said. “62 is a very, very good score. Posted in the morning it gave everyone a challenge. I must admit I thought I was up to that halfway round and it just faded. Came back in 38 which is about four too many unfortunately and that is why I am four behind.”
A total of 78 players made the cut which feel on two under par.
