College Student Stuns by Tying Lowest Recorded Tournament Round in Golf History
Every golfer, whether he or she is a professional or amateur, has had one of those days where everything goes right.
But very few have ever had a day like Davidson College amateur Alex Ross had Thursday in the Dogwood Invitational at the Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta.
Ross shot a ridiculous score of 57, which not only shattered the course record but is the lowest round ever recorded in a tournament — amateur or pro.
That’s 15-under par in one round on the 6,836-yard par-72 course.
MR. 57!
Davidson’s Alex Ross just fired a 15-under 57 in the third round of the 2019 Dogwood Invitational.
? – https://t.co/fmtZ3FxpdI pic.twitter.com/pcRMJlggs1
— Davidson Golf (@davidsongolf) June 7, 2019
And after three rounds, Ross wasn’t even in first place at the event, one of the premier tournaments for amateurs in the country. He shot a 75 and 73 in the first two rounds, so he came into the third round at 4-over.
In the middle of his final round Friday, he was 2-under through 10 holes. His total score was 13-under, which put him six shots behind Isaiah Jackson, who was 19-under.
The participants played two rounds Thursday. Just before teeing off for the third round, Ross asked the starter what the course record was.
“He told me 60,” Ross said, according to Golf Channel. “I said, ‘OK, I guess I’ll go after that.’”
Thirteen birdies and an eagle later, he smashed that record — held by PGA pro Webb Simpson — by three shots. He went 9-under on the back nine with seven birdies and an eagle.
“My phone is a mess right now,” Ross told Golf Channel after the round. “I can’t even comprehend what’s going on. … I’m still kind of in shock right now.”
.@davidsongolf‘s Alex Ross is Mr. 57. pic.twitter.com/b3WgFJziWw
— AmateurGolf.com (@amateurgolfcom) June 7, 2019
This was the first appearance in the Dogwood Invitational for Ross, a sophomore at Davidson.
Past champions at the Dogwood include current PGA pros Simpson, Hudson Swafford and Brian Harman. Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Matt Kuchar, Brooks Koepka, Patton Kizzire and Ollie Schniederjans have also played in the tournament.
While he’s from Atlanta, Ross had only played the course a couple of times in his life.
He was first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference this year. Ross had four top-10s in 11 tournaments and a scoring average of 73.03, according to Golf Channel. His personal best, before Thursday, was a 67.
“Yeah, this is by far my best accomplishment,” Ross said. “Not even close.”
Alex Ross, a @davidsongolf sophomore, had 57 (!!!) today at the @thedogwoodinv. 13 birdies and an eagle. Unreal! pic.twitter.com/AQhcvSUFBk
— Julie Williams (@AGC_Jules) June 7, 2019
So where does Ross stand all time?
The lowest round ever recorded — according to the Guinness Book of World Records — was a 55 carded by Rhein Gibson in 2012 at the par-71 River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma. He was a college player at Oklahoma Christian at the time, Golf Channel reported.
The lowest round in a tournament was held by Bobby Wyatt, who shot a 57 at the 2010 Alabama Boys Junior Golf Tournament, Golf Channel reported. Now Ross shares that record.
On the PGA Tour, Jim Furyk holds the record with a 12-under 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Al Geiberger (1977 Memphis Classic), Chip Beck (1991 Las Vegas Invitational) and David Duval (1999 Bob Hope Classic) are the only PGA pros to card rounds of 13-under. They shot 59s on par-72 courses.
Ross’ mother showed up unannounced to watch her son Thursday. Whenever Stephanie Ross watches him play, she goes back to the clubhouse when he starts playing poorly for fear that she’s jinxing him.
“She used to think she was my bad-luck charm,” Ross told Golf Channel. “But she was my good-luck charm today.”
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