Craig Jones fires record 59
IN: News | Queensland Mens | Horton Park Pro-Am (2008) | Round One | by Bruce Young | 22 Aug 2008
Queenslander, Craig Jones, has done what every golfer dreams of, shooting 59. He did so in the Babcock & Brown Horton Park Pro-Am an event in the 2008 FKP Peregian Springs Series which in turn is part of the Sunshine Tour.
His round of 13 under par is the lowest ever round, in relation to par, recorded in the history of Professional Golf in Australia.
Jones is not the first to shoot a round of 59 in Australia. That honour went to NSW golfer, Brad McIntosh who recorded a 12 under par round of 59 during the second round of the Greater Building Society’s Queensland PGA Championship at the par 71 Emerald Lakes Golf Club on the Gold Coast.
Jones, however, joins an elite group including the likes of David Duval, Chip Beck, Al Geiberger, Notah Begay, and Annika Sorenstam to shoot a 13 under par rounds of 59 in official events, not to mention a new course record at Horton Park Golf Club. His $2,700 winner’s cheque merely shadows the records that he has broken
The QLD Sunshine Tour provides great opportunities for professional golfers all year round but today his amateur partners were the ones who won as they watched an amazing display.
Jones, who plays on the Japan Golf Tour recorded 10 birdies, 2 eagles and a bogey on his way to the magical number. In another record, Craig birdied every par 4 on the golf course and when he walked to the par 5 2nd hole (which was his last hole in the shotgun start), he found himself 12 under par and as low as any player had ever been before.
As a small crowd looked on, Craig hit a magical drive to 160m from the flag on the par 5. His approach shot missed the green and when his third shot left him a 20 foot putt, some thought the dream of shooting 59 could have been over. He knuckled down though to roll the putt in and achieve the unbelievable.
“When I hit the putt on the last I knew it had a chance and I can’t describe the feeling when it went in”, mentioned Jones.
The 38-year-old from the Headland Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast, will now take the abundance of confidence he has created from his achievements to the Japanese Tour when he leaves on Sunday.
“It really shows what these types of events are doing for professional golfers. The Horton Park has been a big part of my life and if I was ever going to shoot 59 I am really glad I have done it here,” explained Jones.
“I now know what an Olympic athlete feels like standing on the podium with the gold medal around their neck – that is the best way to describe it.”
Doug Holloway also created his own history after his round of 66 at Horton Park. He now leads the FKP Peregian Spring Series by eight shots heading into the $50,000 Peregian Springs Pro-Am on the weekend.
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