SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 18 hrs 24 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Renato Paratore closing in on first bogey-free European Tour event since 1995

:Headline: Renato Paratore closing in on first bogey-free European Tour event since 1995: ID:407837: from db_amp
The Italian could become the first player to win a European Tour event without dropping a shot since 1995.

Italy's Renato Paratore is in position to join one of golf's most exclusive clubs after maintaining his flawless form in the Betfred British Masters.

Paratore carded a bogey-free round of 66 at Close House and has not dropped a single shot in the first 54 holes of the European Tour's full return to action for the first time since early March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 23-year-old enjoys a one-shot lead over South Africa's Justin Harding, who also returned a 66 on a day of low scoring, and could become the first player to win a European Tour event without a bogey since Jesper Parnevik in the 1995 Scandinavian Masters.

JT Poston won the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour last year without dropping a shot, the first player since Lee Trevino to do so in 1974.

"It's a good thing to be in contention and I'll just keep trying to play like this," said Paratore, who won the Nordea Masters in 2017.

"I had a month after lockdown ended to practice and fortunately I live in Dubai and played a lot of rounds with a friend of mine, Guido Migliozzi, who also plays on the Tour.

"It's good to practice with someone at the same level as you to keep your game sharp."

Italy's Renato Paratore holds a one-shot lead in the British Masters (Mike Egerton/PA)

Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard is two shots off the lead after also shooting 66, with England's Dale Whitnell another stroke adrift following a 68.

Paratore held a one-shot lead overnight but had been overtaken before he could hit a ball in anger thanks to a stunning round from England's Sam Horsfield, whose 61 set a new course record.

Horsfield only made the halfway cut with a shot to spare but raced to the turn in 30 with four birdies and an eagle and also eagled the 10th to raise the prospect of just the second 59 in European Tour history.

A run of five straight pars effectively put that out of reach but he nevertheless finished the round in style with a birdie on the 16th and a remarkable third eagle of the day on the par-five 17th.

"I actually never thought about a 59 until walking up the 18th fairway," Horsfield said. "I missed a couple of putts on 13 and 14 from 12, 15 feet and I said to my caddie walking up 18, 'I may as well hole it and try to shoot 59'.

"I didn't do that but I had it going today, which was nice. I felt like the first two days I was maybe pushing a bit too hard as I haven't played a tournament in four months.

"I spoke to a few friends last night and they said, 'dude just go out there and play like you were playing at home, it's literally the same'. So that's what I tried to do today and I think it worked."

Horsfield, who is based in Florida and revealed his best friend had tested positive for Covid-19 during the pandemic, is seeking a first European Tour title and believes he is up to the task.

Sam Horsfield set a course record of 61 on day three of the British Masters at Close House (Steven Paston/PA)

"I do feel ready to win," Horsfield added. "We've got qualification for the US Open (from the first five 'UK Swing' events) and that's one of my main goals, to play my way into that."

England's Jack Senior also enjoyed a surge through the field to eight under par thanks to a 63 which included a hole-in-one from 176 yards on the 14th.

However, tournament host and club member Lee Westwood, who was in the first group out at 7.55am, was unable to get in on the act and struggled to a 72 to slip back to level par.

amp_article__407837 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-07-24 18:55:26:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 21:00:32 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Renato Paratore

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .