Phillip Archer broke the Roman Roads record by two shots

The Englishman's birdie putt on the 18th lipped out to leave him nine under par at Celtic Manor in Newport.

However, Archer broke the Roman Road course record, his 60 two better than the mark set by 2005 winner, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Alessandro Tadini.

Sweden's Robert Karlsson is Archer's closest challenger a shot behind on 61.

Colin Montgomerie and Frenchman Francois Delamontagne are two shots further back after going six under on the par-69, 6,743-yard Roman Road course.

English pair Paul Broadhurst and Lee Slattery, plus Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey and Kiwi Stephen Scahill, are tied in fourth after rounds of 64.

Archer, enjoying the calm conditions and hazy sunshine, started quietly enough by making par with four shots on the first.

It's the best score for a long, long time Colin Montgomerie

But the Warrington man then moved into overdrive, hitting seven birdies, spolit only by a bogey on the fourth, to go out in 29.

Further birdies on the 11th, 15th and 16th left him needing one birdie over the last two holes for the European Tour record.

But Archer had to save par on the 17th after finding rough off the tee and then on the last watched his birdie putt agonisingly miss.

"It's a bitter-sweet moment," he admitted. "I played lovely all day and just wanted to give myself a chance on the last.

"I thought I had it. It was left-edge, nice and firm, but it was just a bit too firm."

Montgomerie's six-under 63 ended the worst run of his career in emphatic fashion.

The Scotsman, who had missed the cut in seven of his last 10 tournaments, said: "It's the best score for a long, long time and gives me a lot of encouragement.

"It's been a poor run of form by anyone's standards.

"I started to accelerate through the putter again, trying to get back to the way I putted at the Open last year, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week now."

Ireland's Paul McGinley, back in action just two weeks after an operation to remove a piece of floating bone from his knee, had to settle for a 69 after a double bogey five on his penultimate hole.

"My knee feels very strong, today was fine," said the Dubliner, currently seventh in the Ryder Cup standings.

"I hit 15 greens in regulation but shot level par which is always frustrating. I hit one bad shot on the eighth (which ended behind a bush) and paid a big price."

Stephen Dodd and David Park were the highest-placed home golfers, the Welshmen both carding 66 to stay in a 15-strong group tied for 13th.