Richard Sterne fired a 10-under 62 on Thursday to grab a 1-stroke lead after the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Sterne is a five-time winner on the European Tour, but hasn’t won since capturing a pair of events in South Africa during the 2009 season.
Stephen Gallacher carded a 9-under 63 despite a pair of bogeys. He is looking for his first win since a playoff victory over Graeme McDowell at the 2004 Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Chris Doak, Scott Jamieson and Tommy Fleetwood share third place at minus-7 on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club. Paul Casey and Matteo Manassero are among six players tied for sixth at 6-under 66.
Sterne got off to a flying start with birdies on the 10th and 11th, then carded his third birdie at the par-5 13th. After a pair of pars, Sterne dropped in back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17.
The South African, who made just 10 starts combined in 2010 and 2011 due to a back injury, made it three in a row with a tap-in birdie at 18 to make the turn at minus-6.
Sterne birdie the second, then at the par-3 fourth, he rolled in an 8-footer for birdie to grab the lead. Sterne kicked in a three-footer for birdie at six and came right back with a 22-foot birdie effort at the seventh.
With a chance at matching or breaking Ernie Els’ course record of 61, Sterne closed with a pair of pars to miss the record by one.
“I knew Ernie had shot 61 quite a while ago and always thought it would be impossible to get close, but I got as close as you could,” Sterne stated. “I couldn’t have asked for a better start really. I enjoy this golf course and it shows with the good score today. It’s been a while since I’ve won it’s just not that easy to do anymore.”
Gallacher started his round with birdies at two and four. He holed out for eagle on the long par-4 sixth to jump to minus-4.
After a birdie on the ninth, Gallacher stumbled to bogeys at 10 and 11. He quickly got one stroke back with a birdie on No. 12.
Gallacher converted his second eagle of the day at the par-5 13th, moving him to 6-under. The Scotsman poured in three consecutive birdies from the 15th to climb within one of the lead, then parred the par-5 18th to end one back.
“It was a bizarre round. I chipped in, then three-putted from six feet, but I drove it great,” Gallacher said. “My driver broke last week, but the new one is working well.”
Mark O’Meara, the 2004 champion, and three-time runner-up Lee Westwood are among 10 players tied for 12th place at 5-under 67.
NOTES: Gallacher’s 63 matched his career low round on tour … Thomas Levet made his 500th career European Tour start and posted a 4-under 68, which left him tied for 22nd with Sergio Garcia and last week’s winner Chris Wood among others.