Springer sizzles with 59 to lead John Deere Classic / Photo: Stacy Revere - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Springer sizzles with 59 to lead John Deere Classic
Hayden Springer shot a sensational 12-under-par 59 to surge into a four-shot clubhouse lead at the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic in Illinois on Thursday.
The 27-year-old rattled off an astonishing eight birdies and two eagles in a bogey-free outing at TPC Deere Run to complete only the 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history.
Springer, the ranked 236th in the world, erupted on the front nine, with an eagle on the par-five second before reeling off six birdies in seven holes to reach the turn at eight under.
After five straight birdies to start the back nine, Springer moved to nine under after rolling in a 19-foot birdie putt on the 15th.
He then followed that up on the par-five 17th with an eagle three, chipping in from around 55 yards to drop to 11 under.
That left him needing a birdie on the 18th to breach 60 and he duly delivered after rolling in a 13-foot putt after reaching the green in two.
"I don't even really have words. Like I'm still shaking a little bit," Springer said after his dazzling round.
"It's like something you dream of, right? We all want to go out and shoot 59. You don't ever really -- I don't know how many chances I'll ever get at doing that again.
"To pull it off and hole that shot on 17 and then make the putt on 18 was pretty special.
"I putted well all day. I liked pretty much every putt I hit and a lot of them went in."
Springer's opening round was made all the more remarkable given his recent form.
Before securing a share of 10th place at his last tournament, last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, Springer had missed the cut at five straight tournaments.
Springer said reconnecting with a former coach had helped him make some crucial adjustments.
"It's been a rough a little bit, but I went back to an old coach of mine that I grew up going to and she straightened me out a little bit and helped me get back to some feels that worked in the past," he said. "So that's made a little bit of a difference."
Springer's round left him four shots clear in the clubhouse, leading from England's Harry Hall, who carded an eight-under-par 63.
American duo Kevin Chappell and Hayden Buckley were tied for third place after shooting seven-under-par 64s.
Eight players were tied for sixth place on six under after shooting 65s.
K.R.Jones--EWJ
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