Brier shoots record 62 to romp ahead in Murhof

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.

Brier, 33, from Vienna, has been a regular on the European Tour since graduating from the Challenge Tour in 1999. But he’s taken a week away from the ‘main event’ to support his national Open and put his success down to local knowledge.

"I have played this course hundreds of times and know it like the back of my hand," he said. "When I was an amateur we used to have our training camps here and I probably know Murhof better than any other course in Austria."

It certainly showed as he reeled off 10 birdies, covering both nines in 31 shots to equal the record set in Friday’s second round by South African Hennie Walters.