Nationwide Tour: Lowest rounds of 2007
 
Nov. 27, 2007

2007 Nationwide Tour: Toughest Courses | Toughest Holes

The Nationwide Tour featured a trio of 60s in 2007. Strangely, all three occurrences came in the opening round; even more unusual, none of the three men who shot this remarkable score went on to win the tournament.

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Pappas

Who: Brendan Pappas | 2007 Stats
When: March 22, 2007
Where: Chitimacha Louisiana Open
Course: Le Triomphe Country Club
Course Difficulty: 21st out of 34

Summary: Pappas' round had the magical number of 59 written all over it with just two holes remaining, but it wasn't meant to be. He left a lengthy birdie putt on the lip on the next-to-last hole, and then watched as his lob wedge from 140 yards on the final hole came up well short. The ensuing two-putt from 60 feet still helped Pappas score a Le Triomphe Golf Club course record and equal the lowest first-round score in Nationwide Tour history.

"I threw up on myself with that lob wedge on the last hole," said Pappas, a 36-year-old native of Phalaborwa, South Africa. "I was shaking like a leaf out in the fairway. But it was still an incredible day."

Pappas, 37, lost ground the next day, shooting a 74 that dropped him well off the lead. Rounds of 69-71 on the weekend dropped him into a tie for 12th. He won $11,000 and went on to finish 22nd on the final money list, earning a well-deserved PGA TOUR card for 2008.

Pappas' Scorecard
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 IN TOT
Par 5 4 3 4 5 3 5 3 4 36 4 3 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 35 71
Pappas 4 3 2 4 4 2 4 3 4 30 3 3 4 4 3 4 2 3 4 30 60
Status -6 -7 -8 -8 -9 -10 -11 -11 -11 -- -1 -1 -2 -2 -3 -3 -4 -5 -5 -- -11

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Thompson

Who: Chris Thompson | 2007 Stats
When: July 27, 2007
Where: Cox Classic presented by Chevrolet
Course: Champions Run, Omaha, Neb.
Course Difficulty: 33rd out of 34

Summary: On one of the easier courses on the Nationwide Tour, Chris Thompson opened with an 11-under 60 that included an eagle on the 315-yard ninth hole (his final hole of the day). Thompson eagled the hole after driving to 30 feet and draining the putt.

His eagle was one of 18 on the week for the short par-4. Because Thompson eagled the final hole, shooting a 59 wasn't on the radar.

"I was fortunate to make two bombs on Nos. 8 and 9 that turned a good round into one I won't soon forget," said Thompson, a 31-year-old native of Independence, Kan. "Anytime you shoot a 60, you're going to make some putts. I couldn't be happier with the way I played and I'm even happier with the way I putted."

The joy was short-lived. Thompson burned through 33 putts the next day, shooting a disappointing 71. He went on to end the week tied for eighth (his top outing of the year), and he finished 91st on the money list.

Thompson's Scorecard
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 IN TOT
Par 4 4 3 4 4 5 4 3 4 35 5 4 3 4 4 4 3 5 4 36 71
Thompson 4 4 2 3 3 5 4 2 2 29 4 4 3 3 4 4 2 3 4 31 60
Status -5 -5 -6 -7 -8 -8 -8 -9 -11 -- -1 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2 -3 -5 -5 -- -11

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Letzig

Who: Michael Letzig | 2007 Stats
When: Nov. 1, 2007
Where: Nationwide Tour Championship
Course: Barona Creek Golf Club
Course Difficulty: 34th out of 34

Summary: Armed with a new putter and a staff bag full of motivation, Michael Letzig fired the round of his life when his career needed it most. On the easiest course on the Nationwide Tour in 2007, Michael Letzig caught fire, shooting a 60 in the first round that included 16 greens in regulation and only 25 putts.

The round couldn't have come at a better time for Letzig -- he entered the event 26th on the money list. After shooting 66-73-66 in the last three rounds, Letzig finished second and moved all the way to 12th on the money list to easily secure a PGA TOUR card for 2008.

Interesting postscript: Letzig birdied the par-4 18th hole for his 60, but the hole enacted revenge over the weekend. Letzig bogeyed the hole on Friday, and his four-putt triple-bogey on the 18th on Saturday sent him to a 73.

Letzig's Scorecard
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 IN TOT
Par 5 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 35 4 3 4 5 4 4 3 5 4 36 71
Letzig 4 4 3 4 3 4 2 4 3 31 4 3 3 3 4 3 2 4 3 29 60
Status -1 -1 -1 -1 -2 -2 -3 -3 -4 -- -4 -4 -5 -7 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -- -11