Aussie Gibson
shoots world record 55
With Yamada Putter-May 12, 2012
World record
Rhein Gibson shot a 55. Photo: Darren Pateman
DJP
Little known Australian professional Rhein
Gibson has provisionally set a new world
record for the lowest round in golf, shooting
a 16-under-par 55 at the River Oaks Golf
Club in Oklahoma.
The 26-year-old from Lismore in New South
Wales was playing at his 'local' course in
Oklahomawith two friends, having spent
his college years in the area with Oklahoma
Christian University.
Only Homero Blancas, a PGA Tour player
from the 1960s, has ever recordeda 55 before,
but on a par-70 course of just 5000 yards.
This score was originally in the Guinness Book
of World Records but taken out after harder
qualifying rules were set.
Gibson's round falls into the record parameters
and, once cleared, will be a new world mark.
Starting on the back nine of the 6698-yard
par-71 course, Gibson started with a routine
par before notching up two eagles and a birdie
in his next three holes.
He then continued his birdie blitz with five straight
to close out a mind-boggling nine holes in 26 shots,
10 under par.
Forced to wait 15 minutes at the turn Gibson
could only manage pars on the first two holes
but then birdied six of the last seven to post
an incredible 55.
"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 said.
As he faced an eight-foot birdie putt on his
final hole Gibson knew history was in the offing
but felt calm.
"I wasn't nervous. I had this song playing in my
head. It is that new one from the Eli Young Band.
It was in there all day."
Gibson is aspiring to join the PGA Tour, playing
the smaller Golfweek National Pro Tour,
and through six events is 12th on the money list.
