Jamie Kureluk shows that making zero pars can be fun
In all levels of golf, people can catch fire. A few weeks ago I was playing in a money game where a friend of mine was 6-under through five holes. Another gentlemen played the back nine the same with pars on 10, 11 and 12, only to birdie the final six holes.
You hear a lot about low scores, but this one might take the cake. A man named Jamie Kureluk, who played golf for the University of British Columbia and is currently the head pro at Cottonwood Golf and Country Club (his website is here), shot a back-nine 25 in the first round of the RBC Insurance Alberta Open Championship. A 25!!!
The nine holes included zero pars, seven birdies and two eagles, with a clutch eagle on the 18th hole. Also, with a birdie on his ninth hole, Kureluk was 12-under through his final 10 holes on way to a 61 that has him leading the event by four shots.
How low is 25? Well, Corey Pavin holds the record for lowest number in PGA Tour history with 26, and 27 is the lowest ever shot on the back nine of a PGA Tour event, accomplished by Mike Souchak, Andy North, Billy Mayfair and Robert Gamez. From all accounts, this 25 seems to be the lowest nine-hole score ever recorded.
It was too bad that Kureluk got off to such a slow start early in his round, with a double-bogey on the short 140-yard fourth hole, but he made up ground quick on his way in. Also, while this isn't confirmed, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this is the only 61 in the history of golf with both a bogey and a double-bogey.
Just to put the 25 in perspective. Think if by some incredible miracle you went out one day and shot 6-under on the front nine at your local golf course. You'd be talking about it for weeks, right? Yeah, Kureluk got you by five shots. Make sure to tip your waitress.
