Robert Brazill was the man in Oman on day one of the La Vie Masters as he fired a blistering round of 63 to share the lead on the Clutch Pro Tour – his lowest ever competitive round.
At eight-under, Brazill shares a one shot advantage with England’s Oliver Sullivan while his close friend James Sugrue is just two shots further back after a 65.
The Naas man began on the back nine at La Vie Club in Muscat and roared to the turn in sumptuous style, rolling in a birdie on the 11th before a four in a row surge from the 13th and a birdie on 18 saw him turn in just 30 shots.
Birdies on the 1st and 2nd made it three in a row and he bounced back from bogeys on the 4th and 5th with two birdies in his last three holes as he looks to notch his second professional victory in a matter of months.
“This is my lowest ever competitive round, so try and keep the streak going!” said Brazill who is making his first appearance of the season following seven months out with injury.
“I lost count of what score I was out on the course I didn’t even know how many under I was. I was just in cruise control. It was nice to get out there and it was tough, there was a lot of wind out there today but I hit a lot of good shots and made some putts.”
A former West of Ireland champion, Brazill is no stranger to blustery conditions and he found he was able to adapt to the coastal breeze quite well.
“I think the golf course is lovely, it’s a tough test, the wind switches throughout the day, there are certain holes that are easier than others. The back nine is easier than others and the front nine has some tough holes on it but overall it’s a lovely golf course.”
Sugrue, who had Brazill as caddy when he won the 2019 Amateur Championship in Portmarnock, also knocked in four successive birdies from the 12th hole and added two more on the 4th and 5th to share fourth place.
Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith is a shot behind Sugrue on four-under after ra round of 67 while Brandon St John rounds off the under par scoring for the Irish on two-under after a 69.
Paul McBride is one-over while Marc Boucher and Mark Power sit on the cut line at plus two.
Scoring HERE
Leave a comment