Power seven behind as Jaeger bombs for 58

Stephan Jaeger. Pic: Web.com Tour

Seamus Power made seven birdies in a five under 65 and found himself seven behind Stephan Jaeger who shot the first 58 in Web.com Tour history.

The 27 year old from Munich made 12 birdies and six pars on the near 7,200-yard TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, California to set the mark and lead the Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, CA.

The Web.com Tour reports:

“I’m really happy with the way I played, especially on the back nine,” said Jaeger. “You don’t know when those days are going to come, and they come unexpectedly. Days like this are very, very, very rare.” 

There have been five previous rounds of 59 on the Web.com Tour (Doug Dunakey in 1998, Notah Begay III in 1998, Jason Gore in 2005, Will Wilcox in 2013, and Russell Knox in 2013), along with numerous other 59s on the PGA TOUR and other professional golf circuits around the globe.

However, a 58 was out of the question until Jaeger turned the trick.

Jaeger tees off Friday morning at 8:39 a.m. PT and is excited with the quick turnaround for his second round.

The anatomy of history. ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/EZqW5c3ccY

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) July 29, 2016

Meet Mr. 58. ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/wRr20LCLWt

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) July 29, 2016

“Obviously I feel good about my golf game and want to keep it going. I don’t want to lose that confidence,” he explained. “Obviously the expectations are going to be different tomorrow. You’re not going to be out there and shoot 58 again; it might be a day to grind a little bit. But that’s OK.” 

There had been two 58s recorded in professional golf events prior to Thursday’s round by Jaeger. Jason Bohn did it in 2001 on Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, and Ryo Ishikawa did it on the Japan Tour in 2010. 

But still, there was some history made Thursday.

Jaeger had a late tee time – pegging it just before 2 p.m. PT – and said he arrived to the golf course a little early and spent some time on his putting and chipping. However, it wasn’t unlike any other day.

He enjoyed a prime rib sandwich for lunch, and then began a run at history.

“I’ve been playing good the last couple of weeks; it just hasn’t really clicked,” he said.

The Guinness Book of Records says the lowest ever round is a 16 under par  55 by current Web.com Tour player, Australian Rhein Gibson at the River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma in 2012. 

Power, meanwhile, is tied for 11th place.