ST. ANDREWS, Scotland, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Branden Grace tied the European Tour record with a 12-under-par 60 in first-round play of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships in Scotland.
Grace closed with five consecutive birdies in a bogey-free round at Kingsbarns Golf Links. He had an eagle and 10 birdies and beat Lee Westwood's course record by two strokes. The score of 12-under 60 had been accomplished five times on the European Tour, most recently by Ernie Els in 2004.
The tournament is contested over three courses -- the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Angus and Kingsbarns -- the first three rounds. Grace's 60 was the best Thursday at Kingsbarns by five strokes.
Five of the top scores after Graces were recorded at St. Andrews. The best rounds of the day at Carnoustie were by Gregory Havret and Oliver Wilson, who are tied for 19th at 5-under-par.
Victor Dubuisson, despite a late bogey, was at 10-under after his round at St. Andrews, breaking the course record there. Thorbjorn Olesen was at 9-under while Ashley Hall, Fredrik Andersson Hed and Alexander Noren were tied for fourth at 8-under. They all played St. Andrews Thursday.
Grace, who has three European Tour wins this year, played the second nine at Kingsbarns and had three birdies in his first four holes. He added an eagle at the 16th hole and made the turn at 5-under.
He had birdies at Nos. 1 and 3 before stringing together five birdies over Nos. 5-9 to complete the round.
