Talented French golfer Romain Wattel lit up the Gleneagles course with a sizzling nine under par 63 on day three of the Johnnie Walker Championship.
Wattel, 21 grabbed 10 birdies, including four in succession from his sixth hole to move to 11-under par and two strokes clear of the field as the leaders were just commencing their round
The Bussy St. George’s born Wattel’s score matched the previous Gleneagles low set by Sweden’s Pierre Fulke during the 2000 event however as a ‘preferred lie’ was in effect it will count alongside’s the Swede’s Scottish low.
Edouard Dubois presented with an 18-year old bottle of Johnnie Walker by Tournament Director, Graeme Marchbank. (Photo - Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
“Everytime you go low in a round you enjoy it but I especially enjoyed today’s round because this is a tough golf course,” said Wattel.
“I needed a really good score to be back in the tournament and that’s what I did so I am really happy.”
Wattel, who enjoyed a prolific winning amateur career, turned professional in 2010 and quickly displayed his talent in the pro ranks winning later that year on the secondary Challenge Tour.
He competed last year for a first time on the main European Tour finishing a credible 90th on the money list courtesy of three top-10s.
This year Wattel has enjoyed two top-10s with a best of seventh in the Malaysian Open to be currently lying in a share of 67th on the money list.
And while Wattel was celebrating his lowest-ever Tour score fellow Frenchman Edouard Dubois toasted his first ever Tour hole-in-one when he holed out at the par three, fourth hole.
