Taylor shoots record low round of 61

ENGLAND’S Kirsty Taylor shot the lowest score in the history of the Ladies’ European Tour yesterday with an 11-under-par 61 in the first round of the Wales Championship of Europe at Machynys Peninsula near Llanelli.

The previous record was 62, and the 34-year-old broke the barrier thanks to a five-foot eagle putt at the par-five 18th. She also had nine birdies in halves of 30 and 31 in near-perfect calm conditions.

Without a win in 10 years on tour, the English player led by two from Australia’s Nadina Taylor, with defending champion Trish Johnson, one of four players to share the previous record of 62, in third place on 65.

“It was a day when everything went right,” said a delighted Taylor.