Mac Meissner will enter the third round of the 2023 LECOM Suncoast Classic trailing by at least four shots. But no matter what happens over the weekend, he’s already entered golf’s record book.
On Friday, the SMU graduate became just the eighth player to shoot a sub-60 score in Korn Ferry Tour history. And the 24-year-old shot golf’s magic number—a 12-under-par 59—in spectacular fashion, thanks to a walk-off eagle that capped a seven-under stretch over his final seven holes of the second round at Lakewood National Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
Not that breaking 60 is ever not spectacular. Meissner is the first player to pull it off on the PGA Tour’s developmental circuit since Sam Saunders’ 59 at the 2017 Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Stephen Jaeger shot the tour’s lone 58 at the 2016 Ellie Mae Classic.
“I was hoping I could just sneak in the cut and ended up shooting 59,” said Meissner, who knocked in a 15-footer for eagle on his final hole. “So, I mean, definitely a little bit shocked right now. That’s my first one ever, and to do it in competition is pretty insane.”
And here’s a closer look at his card—and that red-hot finish on the front nine:
The Korn Ferry Tour, which began as the Ben Hogan Tour, has been around since 1990.
There have also been 12 sub-60 rounds in PGA Tour history, including one 58 by Jim Furyk at the 2016 Travelers Championship. Furyk is the only person two shoot two sub-60 scores. Scottie Scheffler, who shot 59 at The Northern Trust in 2020, is the most recent player to do it.
Meissner crushed his previous season-low score of 65 in the second round of the Panama Championship by six shots, and he beat his opening 71 by a dozen. But he’s still got a lot of work to do if he’s to beat his career-best finish from that week in February when he lost in a playoff to Pierceson Coody.
Regardless, he’s come a long way from making a 10 on the same hole twice in one tournament last year. So have a day, Mac. And make sure to put that golf ball somewhere safe.