Joakim Lagergren kicked off the Black Desert NI Open with a spectacular performance, shooting a flawless seven-under-par 63 to seize an early lead at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
The Swedish golfer crafted a round marked by precision and consistency, setting himself two strokes ahead of his nearest competitors.
Lagergren’s bogey-free round included five birdies and a remarkable eagle, showcasing his ability to navigate the challenging Northern Ireland course with finesse.
His lead is pursued by fellow Swede Per Längfors, Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist, and Danish golfer Jeppe Kristian Andersen, who are all tied for second at five-under-par.
Lagergren’s round started on a high note with a birdie on the first hole, followed by an impressive eagle on the par-four second. By the eighth hole, he was already four-under-par, thanks to another birdie.
Additional birdies on the 10th, 14th, and 15th holes cemented his position at the top of the leaderboard.
Reflecting on his performance, Lagergren shared, “I played really solid today. I feel my misses were a bit tighter than they’ve been lately, so even when I played a bad shot, they were okay.
This is a tough course and a really good test. Bogey-free here shows you that you’ve been doing well.”
The 32-year-old has a fondness for Galgorm, having won his first Challenge Tour event here in 2014.
“It makes me feel old knowing that it was ten years ago,” he admitted. “It is a great course and you really need to strike it well to do well here.
I feel like it’s similar to some of the DP World Tour courses that I’ve played over the years, which I really like, so it suits me well.”
In fifth place, just three strokes behind Lagergren, are Czech golfer Jiří Zuska, Ireland’s Conor Purcell, and England’s Sam Hutsby, all sitting at four-under-par.
The competition remains tight with nine players, including local favourite Gary Hurley, Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy, and Italian Stefano Mazzoli, trailing by just one shot in eighth place.
The second round promises more excitement as Lagergren tees off at 7:30 am local time, paired with Sciot-Siegrist and England’s Jonathan Thomson.
With the course conditions expected to remain challenging, spectators can anticipate another thrilling day of golf at Galgorm.
