Cantlay shoots record 60 at River Highlands

Updated June 25, 2011 11:07:00

American Patrick Cantlay became the first amateur to shoot a 60 on the PGA Tour after blitzing the TPC River Highlands course in the second round of the Travelers Championship on Friday.

Having to play 36 holes after Thursday was washed out, the 19-year-old opened with a 67 and then exploded with a second round 10-under to move to a 13-under total of 127 under overcast skies.

The spectacular round of eight birdies and an eagle left Cantlay with a four-stroke lead over a clutch of players tied for second after play was halted with about half the field yet to finish their second rounds.

"I hit it really good this afternoon. I hit only a couple of bad drives and they didn't put me in any trouble," Cantlay told reporters.

"On the greens I felt really, really comfortable and I felt like I could roll almost any putt I had in."

Americans Webb Simpson, Vaughn Taylor and DJ Trahan were in the club-house tied for second on nine-under with Brazilian Alexandre Rocha.

Argentine Andres Romero was also nine-under after five holes of his second round.

Cantlay, who took low amateur honours at the US Open, had a 30 on the front nine and another 30 coming in, kicking the round off with a birdie at the first and consecutive birdies at five, six, eight and nine.

His back nine was quiet until an eagle at the par-five 13th, his second of the day there, sparked a run of closing birdies at 14, 17 and 18.

Cantley finished his round with a sublime eight-iron approach from 152 yards that spun back to settle within three feet of the 18th cup.

"I didn't know that no amateur had ever shot a 60, that wasn't really in my brain," Cantlay said. "I knew where I was and I knew I needed to make eagle on 18 for a 59. But you know, it's tough to hole it from 152."

The last birdie also set a new course record, topping the 61 shared by five players, including Phil Mickelson and Kenny Perry, who achieved the feat in 2009.

Cantlay will now focus on becoming the first amateur to win a PGA title since Mickelson in 1991 at the Northern Telecom Open. Scott Verplank (1985), Doug Sanders (1956) and Gene Littler (1954) also won titles as amateurs.

- Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted June 25, 2011 11:01:00

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