Korn Ferry Tour Player Eagles Final Hole To Shoot 59

Mac Meissner shot a 12-under-par 59, with the American carding a closing eagle to manage the magic number

Mac Meissner strikes his tee shot in a blue shirt
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A 59 is always special in golf, with just a handful of players managing the incredible feat. Now, at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Lecom Suncoast Classic, Mac Meissner has added his name to that role of honor, with the American eagling his final hole to shoot the magic number.

“It’s my first one ever and to do it in competition is pretty insane,” admitted Meissner following his round. “Based on how yesterday went, I didn’t expect today to go as well as it did. I didn’t hit it great (Thursday), did not putt very well, I was hoping I could just sneak in the cut and ended up shooting 59, so, I mean, definitely a little bit shocked right now."

Moving up 104 spots with his 59, Meissner had shot a level-par round of 71 on Thursday, with two birdies and two bogeys meaning he sat down the leaderboard. However, starting on the back nine on Friday, he opened with two birdies in three holes.

From there, back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th were then followed by a closing birdie at the 18th for a five-under-par 30. His journey for a 59 had started well then and, despite it probably not being in his mind at the time, a run of four birdies from the third to the sixth certainly put the 59 into view.

Needing to go three-under for his final three holes, the 24-year-old made a par at the seventh, his 16th hole of the day, and a birdie followed at the penultimate hole. Playing the short par 5, which had been ranked as the second easiest hole of the day, Meissner would need an eagle for the record.

Meissner chats to his caddie prior to his shot

Meissner was seven-under-par for his last seven holes at the LECOM Suncoast Classic 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Finding the fairway, the American managed to stick his approach to 15-feet and, from there, holed a superb eagle putt to send the surrounding crowds into raptures. Not only was it the first 59 on the Korn Ferry Tour in six years, but it was also the eighth sub-60 round on the circuit.

“I’ve had a few 61s, a 60, so I’ve been around there, but I’ve never had a putt for 59,” Meissner explained. “So that was cool to have one there on nine. It was kind of a tough putt, and I’d just made a good-sized one on eight, so I was like, why not? And it rolled in right in the middle. So it was pretty crazy.”

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x