Hampshire golfer joins exclusive club by shooting a sub-60 round on iconic European course

The 2017 British Amateur champion fired a 12-under par 59 at Switzerland’s Crans-sur-Sierrre Golf Club on his way to victory in the Olivier Barras Memorial.

His lowest-ever score – as either a professional or amateur – ensured the 24-year-old will receive an invite to play in the 2021 Omega European Masters at Crans Montana.

The 2020 edition of one of the most popular annual events on the European Tour was due to have been played at the end of August.

But its cancellation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will not stop Ellis, from Botley, gaining a place in next year’s field.

The 59 in the second round – which included six birdies on each side of the course and crucially no bogeys – was good enough to spread-eagle the field.

It meant that Ellis – who became the youngest-ever player to win the English Amateur Championship at 16 in 2012, breaking Sir Nick Faldo’s record by two years – cruised to a nine-shot victory after the third and final round at Crans.

The day could not have been any less complete for his first professional win as his girlfriend Morgane Matreux, a rookie on the Ladies European Tour, claimed the ladies prize.

Ellis said: ‘I’m really looking forward to returning to Crans at the Omega European Masters next year.

‘The 59 round on a course with so much history will always be a highlight of my career.’

Ellis shot a 68 in the first round to lie in a share of ninth before his birdie blitz left him on 15-under par – six shots clear with 18 holes to play.

Four players closed the tournament with 67s, including Ellis.

The Hampshire ace – who was a junior at Meon Valley Golf Club and is now attached to Wentworth – finished the week on 19-under.

He has spent the last couple of weeks in Switzerland practicising with Morgane, whose older sister Kim also earned her LET card at Q-School in Spain at the start of 2020.

Ellis became the fifth English winner of the Olivier Barras Memorial since it was founded in 1965.

The most famous winner is New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, who won the Challenge Tour event in 1994.