Talk about getting out of the gate quickly.
Garrick Higgo’s incredible start on Saturday set the UNLV product up nicely, giving him the 54-hole lead at the European Tour’s Gran Canaria Lopesan Open in Spain.
The 21-year-old Higgo was 5 under for the day after his first four holes — stringing together birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 3 at Meloneras Golf Club before dropping an eagle on the fourth hole.
The South African, who already has a Euro Tour victory under is belt after winning last fall’s Open de Portugal, finished with a 29 on the front and closed the day with a 63. He sits at 18 under for the tournament, two shots ahead of Matthias Schwab, Matthieu Pavin and Connor Syme.
Higgo is currently 110th in the Official World Golf Ranking, but his standing in the Race to Dubai would skyrocket if he holds on for the victory. A win projects to push him to 16th in the European Tour’s season-long competition, up 68 spots from his current standing.