Ferguson fires another 61 to take control at Galgorm Castle

Scotland's Ewen Ferguson carded his second 61 in the space of a fortnight to open up a four-shot lead after the opening day of the ISPS Handa World Invitational.

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Ferguson chipped in for eagle on the 10th and 18th and also recorded five birdies in a flawless nine-under-par round at Galgorm Castle, one of two courses used for the event which sees men’s and women’s tournaments taking place simultaneously.

Best of the Irish are David Carey and John Murphy, who both carded rounds of 67 to move to three-under par and six shots adrift of the leader. Paul Dunne is a further stroke back on -2, with Tom McKibbin on one-under par.

Conor Purcell and Gary Hurley shot level-par rounds respectively, with Tim Rice (+2), Cormac Sharvin (+3), David Higgins (+3), Niall Kearney (+3), Simon Thornton (+3), Jack Hearn (+5), Dermot McElroy (+7), Dermot Brazil (+8) and Charlie Williams (+10) also in action.

The man to catch however is Ferguson and 26-year-old, who also shot 61 in the second round of the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews, said: "I feel good.

"Actually I was messaging Jamie (Gough, his coach) yesterday about a few things I wasn’t doing too well yesterday in the pro-am. I played with Niall (Horan) and Robbie and I kept hitting a lot of bunkers.

"Today was just nice to avoid them all, which was good and obviously a 61, a course record is pretty nice."

England’s Richard Bland, Sweden’s Felix Palson and Spain’s Borja Virto are Ferguson’s nearest challengers on five under par, with South Africa’s Thomas Aiken part of a large group on four under in his first competitive appearance this year.

"First of all, it’s great to be back," Aiken said. "It’s been a weird three years for me with a few family issues in the beginning and then