Heading into Friday’s second round at the Lecom Suncoast Classic, Mac Meissner was facing a missed cut.
Eighteen holes later, he’s in the record books.
Meissner carded a 12-under 59 during the second round at Lakewood National’s Commander Course in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, the eighth sub-60 round in Korn Ferry Tour history. He vaulted more than 100 spots up the leaderboard and was only four shots behind leader Kevin Daugherty after the morning wave.
“Based on how yesterday went, I didn’t expect today to go as it did,” Meissner said. “Didn’t hit it great, did not putt very well. I was hoping I could just sneak in the cut and ended up shooting 59. I mean, definitely a little bit shocked right now. That’s my first one ever, and to do it in competition is pretty insane.”
History was made at the LECOM Suncoast Classic
Mac Meissner became just the eighth Korn Ferry Tour member to shoot a sub-60 round. pic.twitter.com/AE5OQhHrRB
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 21, 2023
The 24-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, lost in a playoff against Sam Saunders and Pierceson Coody in Panama earlier this year, and his best round of the season coming in was a 67.
In fact, Saunders was the last person to shoot in the 50s on the Korn Ferry Tour, coming in 2017 at the Tour Championship.
His day started on the back nine, where he birdied two of his first three holes and then three of his last four to turn in 5-under 30. Meissner started the back nine with a pair of pars before birdieing four straight. After a par on 16, he went birdie-eagle to card a 7-under 29 on the back and signed for a 59.
“I’ve had a few 61s, a 60, so been around there, but actually never had a putt for 59,” Meissner said. “That was cool to have one on 18, or on 9. It was kind of a tough putt and I just made a good-sized one on 8 and I was like, ‘Why not?’ It rolled in right in the middle, that was pretty crazy.”
Meissner sits tied for third at 12 under par with Chris Gotterup after the morning wave.
Heading into Saturday, Meissner hopes he can continue the momentum.
“Yesterday I made two birdies, didn’t hit — hit it to a bunch of fringes, just felt like I was close, couldn’t really get the ball on the right side of the hole,” he said. “I just kind of shot a really average even par round out here. That just goes to show you that every day’s different. You wake up, you never know what can happen. I’m just super fortunate to be able to do this in a tournament.”
