An ordinary round of golf turned into an extraordinary masterclass as English amateur Allan Harrison defied astronomical odds to card eight birdies across just nine holes. The 64-year-old started his round at Fairhaven Golf Club with four dropped shots on the front nine before a "pasty and a drink" at the halfway house gave him a burst of life.

Harrison then fired seven consecutive birdies, completing eight in nine holes—a run of form rarely seen in professional golf, let alone at an amateur level. He is a former foursomes partner of Tommy Fleetwood at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club. England Golf calculated the odds for making eight birdies in nine holes as an astonishing one in 322 billion. For Harrison, whose 0.4 handicap signals high ability, the odds were said to be one in 455,000.

"I was four over after the front nine," Harrison said. "I went into the halfway house, had a pasty and a drink, and the lads laughed when I said I'd start the back nine fresh." Had he achieved nine consecutive birdies, he would have matched PGA Tour records set by Mark Calcavecchia and Kevin Chappell, but he missed out after misreading a putt on the 17th hole.

Although Harrison led the Silver Pheasant tournament after the first round, he finished second overall. However, he is not alone in this feat; Australian Amelia Harris also recorded eight birdies in nine holes last month.