Khan vaults into lead with record round

Britain's Simon Khan broke the Celtic Manor course record by two strokes with an 11-under-par 61 to surge into a two-stroke lead in the Wales Open second round on Friday.

His hopes of becoming the first European Tour player to shoot an official 59, however, faded after he had carded a remarkable front nine of nine-under-par, only the third tour player to shoot that low.

His 27 strokes, as he ran in an eagle and seven birdies, also equalled the tour record for nine holes.

The 31-year-old Englishman, seeking a maiden title, needed to pick up four more shots on his back nine to better the tour record of 60 for 18 holes, but could only find two more birdies.

He needed to eagle at the last for the record 59 but an indifferent pitch after coming up short with his second on the par-five ended his chance. He also missed out on becoming the 11th player to shoot 60 as he could only par.

Khan's memorable morning, though, enabled him to set a target of 14-under-par 130, two strokes ahead of fellow Briton Paul Casey and five better than a resurgent Colin Montgomerie and Ireland's 2003 European Tour rookie of the year Peter Lawrie.

"Strangely, I felt pretty relaxed all day but as the round goes on you can't help but think of the 59," said Khan.

"After birdieing the 11th I felt I definitely had a chance for it.

"When you are in that kind of position you don't know how you are going to react.

"I knew what I needed to do at the last but didn't hit the best of drives. My caddie told me to lay up with my second but I told him he must be joking.

"I hit it as far as I could but came up short and then it wasn't the best of pitches."

Khan included a chip-in eagle from 30ft on the par-five fifth but he also ran in several long putts, two from 18ft, one from 15 and a 12-footer in his blistering front-nine.

Second-placed Casey's 63 would have equalled the course record before Khan's salvo, and he admitted to being inspired by the bid for 59.

"My score was all down to chasing Simon," said Casey after returning to the form that took him to sixth place in the Masters. "It takes your mind off what you are shooting yourself.

"We were having friendly wagers in our group on what he was going to score.

"We were actually very disappointed to still see 14-under on the board after he had finished. The 59's going to be done sooner or later and when it is it will be good for the tour."

Montgomerie's 68 kept him well in touch with the lead for the first time since his pending divorce was announced.

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