Dane Olesen holds lead at Dunhill Links Championship

The 21-year-old from Devon carried on from where he left off with eight birdies, an eagle and two bogeys in an opening 64 at Kingsbarns, which was matched by Irish team-mate Paul Dunne, whose memorable day also included a hole-in-one on the 15th.

Nineteen players were separated by just four shots as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship headed for an exciting finish at St Andrews on Sunday. “I started off badly by hitting it in the water on the first but I got over it and played a few good golf out there”, said the delighted Olesen.

Frenchman Benjamin Hebert holds down third place after 54 holes and is 13 under thanks to six birdies against just one bogey at Carnoustie.

American Brooks Koepka had gone to the turn in 34 and then rolled in a hat-trick of birdies from the 10th to move to 16 under, with eight players another shot behind, including major champions Stewart Cink, Graeme McDowell and Ernie Els.

Footage of Els missing from a matter of inches went viral on the internet and the 45-year-old admitted: “I don’t even want to see it. I knew what it felt like and it was a thing of disaster, so I went to my other putter, a shorter putter where all the weight is in the head and I feel I can get the putter head through to the ball easier”. So yeah, it was good fun. Olesen recorded his front-nine birdies at 3, 4, 7 and 8 and finished with four more in his final five, including a 20-foot conversion at St. Andrews’ iconic 18th.

Wall shot a four-under 68 at St Andrews, with seven birdies and three bogeys.

Briton Jimmy Mullen, the overnight leader, dropped back after a 74 at Carnoustie. But Pablo (Larrazabal) helped me along and the two amateurs we were playing with, Miguel (Duenas) and my partner, Pascal (Alfaro) are just really nice guys. But yeah, hopefully I can do it this week.

The German also leads the pro-am event on 30 under playing with former Germany and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, the pair combining for a better-ball 58 on day three.

Golf fans who watched this year’s British Open know what Paul Dunne is capable of.