Ryo Ishikawa recorded the first-ever 58 shot on one of professional golf's major tours today to win a tournament on the Japan Tour. And that was despite missing a birdie try on the final hole.
The 18-year-old Ishikawa had 12 birdies and no bogeys in the final round of The Crowns tournament in Togo, Japan. He had a 15-foot birdie try on the final hole for a 57, but just missed.
Not surprisingly, Ishikawa surged to victory. A round of 58 will do that for a golfer. He started the final round six strokes behind Shigeki Maruyama, who himself has recorded a competitive 58. Maruyama's 58 happened in a U.S. Open sectional qualifier in 2000.
The previous Japan Tour 18-hole scoring record was a 59 carded by Masahiro Kuramoto in 2003. A 58 has been recorded on the Canadian Tour, by Jason Bohn. On the major tours, however, 59 is the lowest anyone had gone before.
Three golfers - Al Geiberger, Chip Beck and David Duval - have shot 59 on the USPGA Tour. Three golfers - Notah Begay III, Doug Dunakey and Jason Gore - have 59s on the Nationwide Tour. Annika Sorenstam is the only LPGA golfer to shoot 59. No golfer has yet broken 60 on the European Tour (although Adrien Mork did it on the European Challenge Tour in 2006).
Ishikawa's 58 was recorded at Nagoya Golf Club, which was playing 6,545 yards. It was his seventh win on the Japan Tour.
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