Dean Burmester finished his second round with a remarkable eight threes in a row to catapult himself up the leaderboard at the 2020 English Championship.
The South African had already developed a taste for the back nine at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & CC having come home in 30 on day one and he bettered that by two on Friday to equal the lowest nine holes on the Race to Dubai so far this season.
He made a par four on the tenth but after a par three on the 11th, he may have been using his marking pencil from muscle memory, eagling the par five 12th, birdieing the remaining five par fours and matching the card on the par three 16th.
That put him alongside playing partner Laurie Canter at 13 under, and the big-hitting 31-year-old revealed the Englishman was willing him on for more threes.
"I enjoyed it, especially on the back nine," he said. "Finished with eight threes in a row, it was interesting. Laurie was laughing on the last, he was willing it in for another three. It was good fun.
3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3.
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 7, 2020
Dean Burmester's finish today 👊#EnglishChampionship #GolfForGood pic.twitter.com/nAlYvvpp2c
"I think you've got to focus more on the back nine. The front nine is right in front of you. I tend to lose a little focus, it's quite easy for me to look at the birds and mess around out there.
"When you get on the tenth tee you immediately know it's a little tighter and you have to hit a couple of better shots, hole a few putts.
"The greens are receptive, which is kind of like playing in South Africa, you've got to control your spin and flight into the greens. The course is playing firey so it's playing a lot shorter than it normally would, which plays into my hands a bit. I like having wedges in.
"Just try to do more of the same and hopefully play better on the front nine."
Canter was full of praise for his playing partner's efforts but he had plenty to be proud of himself, posting eight birdies and two bogeys in a 65.
"Dean just played bonkers," he said. "I think he is something like 13 under just for the back nine, he’s played unbelievable that side, which is great to watch. He hits it miles which is quite fun.
"I was giving Dean some stick for outdriving him alright."
He added: "I still need need to figure out the 17th hole but I’m trending, six yesterday, five today, hopefully four tomorrow and three on Sunday."
