AUSTRIAN golf has rarely made the headlines, although those who believe the game isn’t popular there would be well wide of the mark.

A course record equalling 62 from Markus Brier has set up the chance of a first ever home victory in the Austrian Golf Open at Murhof. He is on 20 under par 196, three shots clear of overnight leader, Gary Birch Jnr, who returned 68, and Kariem Baraka from Germany with 66.

Irishman Gary Murphy carded a 64, including nine birdies, to lead after the first round of the Austrian Open at Murhof.