Hallberg turns on style

Gary Hallberg of the US equalled a course record at a blustery Turnberry to lead the Senior Open Championship by three shots.

The 54-year-old recovered from an early bogey on the Ailsa course to put in a superb burst of eight birdies in 13 holes on his way to a seven-under 63.

It left him clear of first-round leader Bernhard Langer and American Tom Lehman. Langer played steady golf in the windy conditions to reach the turn in par and went on to birdie the 11th. But a disastrous triple-bogey seven at the 13th, followed by another bogey at the 17th saw him slump to a round of 73.

Hallberg carded perhaps his most impressive three of the day at the 14th.

Having missed the green to the right, one of his only errant shots, the man from Illinois holed his 40-foot birdie putt from off the green. An eighth birdie at the long 17th helped seal a memorable day for the 1980 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. Irelands ’Des Smyth on 145 and Denis O’Sullivan on 148 made the cut.