Conference 7.286::golf

1344.0. "Not a bad round..." by SNAX::ERICKSON (What? Me Worry!) Fri Aug 16 1991 15:23

Hello,

	This is article is a month old and re-printed without permission. I've
played with this guy once before. He visited one week to play in our local
boys's club tournament. That was being played at the International in Bolton.
His first time ever seeing the International he shot a par 72.

	On the 13th day of July, while playing out of cart No. 13, P.J. Cowan,
assistant professional at Montauk Downs State Park, achieved one of the rarest
feats in golf when he shot a 59, 13 under par, over his home course.
	Shooting 59 is far rarer than shooting a hole in because it requires
18 holes of nearly perfect execution rather than one good swing. "I've been
hitting the ball the best I ever have the last two weeks, said Cowan, 23. "I'm
a streaky putter, This day the putts fell in."
	Did they ever. After parring the first four holes, he played the last
14 in 13 under par with two eagles and nie birdies and this is no pushover
course, measuring 6,762 yards from the back tees, which Cowan used. It is one
of the best public courses in the United States, designed by the renowned
Robert Trent Jones as a private club.
	Cowan got it going with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 sixth hole. On
par-4 sixth, a 10-footer dropped birdie. The first eagle came on the par-5
seventh, which he reached with a 5-iron and made it from 15 feet. He birdied
the ninth from 8 feet for a 31 on the front nine. His second eagle came on
the par-5 10th, where he hit driver-driver to 6 feet. He birdied the par-4
11th by nearly driving the green. He birdied the 12th from 20 feet and got up
and down from a greenside bunker on the par-5 13th for birdie. He kept the
round intact by saving par on the 14th with a 20-footer. He birdied the 16th
with a 6-footer and the 17th with a 15-footer.
	By now a small crowd was following him, and when reached the 18th green
, there was a bundle of people trying to wish in his 10-footer for birdie and
59. When he hit the putt, he thought it was short, but perhaps the collective
willpower surrounding the green forced the ball in the hole. "I did a Hale
Irwin run around the green after that putt dropped." Cowan said.
	Cowan played with three amateurs who had signed up to play with a pro
on Saturday morning. They were Pat Matzanza, Steve Dolan and Jay Liebell.
The group whent of at 7:40, which means the greens were fresh from cutting and
the ball generally would roll truer.
	Cowan broke the course record of 62 set by Bob Weber, the pro at the
Mill River Club. Cowan's previous best score was 62 at Tam O'Shanter in
Brookville. Only once has a 59 been shot on the PGA Tour, by Al Geiberger in
1977.
	Cowan was a strong local amateur player, having been No.1 on the St.
John's team. He won the 1987 Big East championship and the 1987 Long Island
Amateur, and also won the 1989 Mexican Amateur. He has aspirations of playing
the PGA Tour, and has played in two Ben Hogan Tour events recently.
	"I was kind of upset with how I scored in those events because I never
hit the ball better in my life." he said, "but the putts didn't drop."

1st  - Par 4 -  394
2nd  - Par 3 -  152
3rd  - Par 4 -  421
4th  - Par 4 -  423
5th  - Par 5 -  530
6th  - Par 4 -  347
7th  - Par 5 -  508
8th  - Par 3 -  167
9th  - Par 4 -  452

          36   3394

10th - Par 5 -  499
11th - Par 4 -  319
12th - Par 3 -  213
13th - Par 5 -  494
14th - Par 3 -  199
15th - Par 4 -  436
16th - Par 4 -  377
17th - Par 4 -  390
18th - Par 4 -  441

          36 - 3368

               6762

    I played Montauk Downs a few years back and it is a GOOD golf course.
    This guy was on fire ! Well Done !
    
    --Jack

    
    Hi,
    
    	WOW!!! What a great round!
    
    	Regarding his birdie putt on 18 to break 60... he said he thought 
    	he left the putt short.. but it did make it of course.
    
    	Can you imagine what he would have felt like if he did?? Especially
    	since it was definetly on line... that would have hurt BIG time!
    
    	What a great story...  I feel kinda silly trying to break 70 on
    	a par 72 course! :)
    
    	Walta