Golfer Shoots Legit Round of 55
Rhein Gibson — a golfer who has very modest experience on the Nationwide Tour and a few Australian pro tournaments, and is ranked 1,444th in the world rankings — has posted a score of 55. For 18 holes. On a legitimate (meaning full-sized, regulation) golf course.
The golf course is River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Okla., and the round took place on May 12, 2012. River Oaks is an 18-hole course with a par of 71, and Gibson was playing the tips from around 6,800 yards.
It's the second round of 55 known. The first was recorded by former PGA Tour and Champions Tour player Homero Blancas in the early 1960s, but that round occurred on a 9-holer with two sets of tees that was a par-70 but only a little longer than 5,000 yards.
Even his home country Sydney Morning Herald described Gibson as "little known." He's 26 years old, and he must really love River Oaks because a short time before the 55 Gibson established a course record of 60. It's a pretty safe bet that his new course record of 55 will never be broken, eh?
Before turning pro, Gibson played collegiately at Oklahoma Christian University, an NAIA school (NAIA being several divisions below NCAA), and made the NAIA All-American team. He currently plays on the mini-tour Golfweek National Pro Tour.
Playing with two others, Gibson started his round on Hole 10, opening with a par. Following that were an eagle, a birdie, an eagle, then five straight birdies for a 26 over his first nine holes. On the second nine, Gibson started with two pars, then made three birdies, a par and three more birdies for a 29 and a total of 55. In all, he had 12 birdies and two eagles.
"I just kind of got hot I guess and every putt I hit went in, that's the best I can explain it to be honest," Gibson told the SMH.
His playing partners posted scores of 69 and 74. Imagine shooting 74 and losing by 19 ...
The golf course is River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Okla., and the round took place on May 12, 2012. River Oaks is an 18-hole course with a par of 71, and Gibson was playing the tips from around 6,800 yards.
It's the second round of 55 known. The first was recorded by former PGA Tour and Champions Tour player Homero Blancas in the early 1960s, but that round occurred on a 9-holer with two sets of tees that was a par-70 but only a little longer than 5,000 yards.
Even his home country Sydney Morning Herald described Gibson as "little known." He's 26 years old, and he must really love River Oaks because a short time before the 55 Gibson established a course record of 60. It's a pretty safe bet that his new course record of 55 will never be broken, eh?
Before turning pro, Gibson played collegiately at Oklahoma Christian University, an NAIA school (NAIA being several divisions below NCAA), and made the NAIA All-American team. He currently plays on the mini-tour Golfweek National Pro Tour.
Playing with two others, Gibson started his round on Hole 10, opening with a par. Following that were an eagle, a birdie, an eagle, then five straight birdies for a 26 over his first nine holes. On the second nine, Gibson started with two pars, then made three birdies, a par and three more birdies for a 29 and a total of 55. In all, he had 12 birdies and two eagles.
"I just kind of got hot I guess and every putt I hit went in, that's the best I can explain it to be honest," Gibson told the SMH.
His playing partners posted scores of 69 and 74. Imagine shooting 74 and losing by 19 ...
