In an astonishing week for golf—not just on the Korn Ferry Tour, but across the entire golf landscape—players whipped their games into shape. Adrien Dumont de Chassart started the week with a blistering first-round 59 at Crestview Country Club. Then, unbelievably, the very next day Aldrich Potgieter did it again. Cristobal Del Solar of Chile created the buzz with a stunning performance that raised the bar. Specifically, his unbelievable 57 during the first round of the Astara Golf Championship in Colombia broke the Korn Ferry Tour record. These performances are the latest examples of a deeply exciting trend in professional golf. There have been 18 of these rounds so far in 2023 among the professional and elite amateur ranks.
Crestview Country Club, a lengthy and downright difficult layout at over 6,910 yards and playing to a par of 70. The course features two outstanding par 5 holes, both measuring just over 500 yards. Then, there are two brief par 4 holes, both less than 350 yards. One particularly impressive round featured a beginning stretch of five birdies, showcasing both his finesse and power behind the ball. For all his remarkable play, he failed to win the tournament.
Just one day after Dumont de Chassart’s achievement, Aldrich Potgieter matched the 59 on Crestview Country Club. However, like his predecessor, Potgieter experienced the sadness of seeing all his superb golf efforts not rewarded with tournament victory. The Korn Ferry Tour saw its second instance in two years where two players achieved sub-60 rounds in the same event, demonstrating the increasing competitiveness in the league.
The week continued to shine as Myles Creighton joined the ranks of golfers shooting 59 on the Korn Ferry Tour during the Wichita Open. Creighton then birdied the 18th hole to become the 15th player to reach that milestone on the tour. With that round he made history, with 12 birdies on his scorecard. His only blemish was a bogey on the par-3 eighth hole. Creighton’s score was the second time a 59 was recorded in only three days and at the same tournament!
This increasing trend of low scores is indicative of a continuing changing dynamic in professional golf. Year in and year out, players are re-defining what can be accomplished on the course. As records are made and unmade, fans can look forward to even more electrifying displays in the upcoming World Cups.
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