Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin has been upgraded to First Class in establishing a new Maxx Royal course record of a 10-under par 62 on day three of the Turkish Airlines Open in Belek.

Jacquelin birdied his opening four holes but then had a double bogey at the fifth before picking up another seven birdies including also birding his closing four holes in a record-setting total of 12 birdies.

Raphael Jacquelin, and a former Spanish Open champion, shoots a new course record 62.

“It was a crazy round for a crazy game,” said the bearded French golf star.

“I’ve been struggling the last month, the last two months with my game.  I didn’t really feel well, no confidence, nothing.  So it was not easy to start this Final Series with no confidence.

“But starting this week, I was feeling a little bit better, the rhythm was back, especially for me it was my key.  I hit some better shots and more on line, so I have been hitting more fairways and more greens, and today, everything was together I would say.

“So, even with a double bogey on five, the rest was incredible and I had a lot of other chances and I made it.  So it’s happy days.”

Jacquelin is credited with the new Montgomerie course record given the opening two rounds were playing under a ‘preferred lie’ rule.

The Frenchman’s tally of 12 birdies also matches the European Tour record for the number of birdies held by five players including Major Champions Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Darren Clarke.

Also it is the seventh occasion the 39-year old Lyon-born Jacquelin has shot a 62 in his European Tour career with three of those now course record setting 62s.