Look out Jim! Amateur Richard Mansell shoots 58 in Florida
They call Jim Furyk ‘Mr 58’ after he shot the lowest round in PGA Tour history at the Travelers Championship – but amateur Richard Mansell can also claim membership of golf’s most exclusive club.
The Forest of Arden member, who is a senior at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, fired an incredible 10 consecutive 3s as he recorded the magic number in a charity fourball event at Fort Lauderdale Country Club on Monday.
Mansell, who plays off +3 in the UK, was so into his round he didn’t even realise until later he’d gone quite so low – initially believing he’d recorded a 60.
The 21-year-old says he has been overwhelmed after being inundated with messages and support for a round he will remember for the rest of his life.
“If I’d been playing in a regular tournament by myself I wouldn’t have had the same gameplan,” he said. “I hit driver everywhere and I just didn’t miss a shot. I made everything.”
Mansell kicked off with birdies at the opening two holes and was four under after 8 before picking up a birdie 3 at the 9th for an outward 31.
Improbably, he then took only three shots on every hole on the back 9 – forging home in just 27 to finish up with a day to remember.
He added: “I thought I’d shot 60 at first. I wasn’t putting the team score down. We were playing fourball and I was going first. I didn’t have any pressure.
“I just hit it so well and on my lines. It wasn’t like I was reading putts differently at the end of the round. I wasn’t just stepping up and hitting it but it was pretty close to that.
“I was so relaxed and enjoying myself that it just happened.”
Mansell, who is eyeing up a career in the professional game once he graduates, said he will may take a different approach into tournaments after his fabulous round.
“I can’t describe what has happened in the last two days,” he said. “My phone has just blown up. It has been overwhelming but I am trying not to get ahead of myself.
“I’ve shot 9 and 8 under before but nothing quite like that.”
So yesterday my life changed. I'm going to remember that day for the rest of my life. pic.twitter.com/w6XWHzCDns
— Richard Mansell (@Richard_Mansell) November 15, 2016
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
