Short stick and long stick records tumbled on day three on the mountainous Madeira Islands Open host venue.
Spain’s Carlos Del Moral recorded the lowest-ever number of putts on the European Tour in managing just 20 putts and storming his way to a three stroke lead with a 17-under par total around the Santo da Serra course.
Spain's Carlos Del Moral has every reason to be smiling after setting a new Tour low of just 20 putts in a single round. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
India’s Shiv Kapur recorded the longest-ever drive in the history of the Tour launching a 442-yard tee shot off the 13th tee to the fairway well below.
Kapur’s drive is believed also to be the third longest on any of the main Tour’s.
(For more details on Kapur’s super drive see seperate story posted earlier today)
Del Moral, 26 one putted all nine outward holes and then one-putted the last three for birdies in a score of a nine under par 63.
The Valencia-born Del Moral is seeking to win for a first time on the European Tour.
A Tour official indicated it is likely to be the lowest number of putts in 18 holes and comes just a week after the European Tour celebrated its 40th anniversary.
“I putted beautifully, which gives me a lot of confidence,” said Del Moral.
“I had nine single putts over the front nine but only eight could on the stats card as I putted from off the green at the second.
“So to have just 20 putts was unbelievable, incredible.
“And the ones that I missed hardly missed at all, they were so close to going in.”
Twenty-year old Swedish rookie Joakim Lagergren (70) birdied the last to move to 14-under par and break clear of four places tied in third place at 13-under par.
They include fellow Swede’s Mikael Lundberg (64) and Magnus Carlsson (71), Portugal’s Ricardo Santo (68) and England’s Oliver Wilson, who birdied the last in a score of 72 as he seeks to end a run of nine second place finishes.
Kapur’s drive left the New Delhi born golfer with just 11-yards to the flag.
The drive is 17 yards longer than Tiger Woods best-ever but 34-yards shorter than PGA Tour longest set by current USA Ryder Cup captain, Davis Love in 2004 Mercedes Championship on Maui.
