Marcus Armitage started his round by holing out from 40 feet for a birdie at the 10th and fired ten more as well as two bogeys to close with a 9-under 63 and take a four-shot lead at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
“[The putt for birdie at the 10th] went in with a lovely pace and it’s a tough hole to open up, especially with a 4.30am alarm,” said the Englishman.
“Jason Scrivener’s caddie said to me ‘You always hole a couple of 40-footers when we play with you’ and I holed a few more after that.”
“It’s been my best score in quite a few years so I’m really pleased with it,” continued Armitage.
“It just shows that a bit of time off, rest the mind and come back fresh and apply yourself and I’ve still got the game.
“This wind round here can proper blow and I look forward to that challenge as well, so it’s nice to get a buffer going forward and we can deal with whatever comes our way tomorrow.”
England’s Jack Senior signed for a bogey-free 67 to take a share of second place at 5-under alongside Spain’s Ivan Cantero and Sweden’s Alexander Björk.
Play was suspended overnight due to darkness. Players yet to finish Round 1 will restart at 07.45.
