Laurie Canter shot the lowest round of his European Tour career, the lowest round in event history and matched the lowest score to par ever recorded on the that tour.
But his 12-under 60 does not count as a course record because the European Tour restricts such rounds going into the record books if lift, clean and place is in effect.
Canter started on the back nine in the opening round of the Italian Open on Thursday and posted five birdies to make the turn at 31. He then birdied the third and fourth holes and eagled the sixth to bring 59 into play. And he almost got there, closing with birdies on Nos. 7, 8 and 9 to shoot a 60 at Chervò Golf Club in Brescia, Italy.
Italian Open: Leaderboard
After rain soaked the course, lift, clean and place was put into effect. But on the European Tour, record scores do not count as record scores if they are recorded under such conditions. Thus, Canter’s 60 is good enough to lead the Italian Open by four over Dean Burmester and Joachim Hansen, but it’s not going down in the record books any other way.
In fact, the European Tour has never had an “official” 59 because of the rule. Golfers have broken 60 on the European Tour but each time it has happened, it was under lift, clean and place, which is also sometimes called “preferred lies” or “placing on the fairways.”
So bummer for Canter, but that’s still a heck of a round.
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