Retired pro shoots 22 below his age

A retired golf professional has set a new world record by shooting 22 strokes below his age at a sanctioned Seniors event in California.

Playing at Indian Springs Country Club in Southern California, John Powell shot 73 in his first round, before going low with an eight under 64, which included six birdies and an eagle! 

86 - 64, and voila - 22 shots difference between his age and his score!

“The first round I shot 73, which I thought wasn’t bad," said John. "But the second round was a little bit different. It was one of those days when everything just went perfectly. It was a nice day – probably about 95 degrees – and I felt very calm.”

But John had no idea that he had just achieved a new entry into the Guinness World Records.

“I was on the way home on the freeway when my phone rang and this fella called and wanted to know who I was,” said John, who was head professional at Los Serranos Country Club for 25 years from 1978.

“He checked into it and said the previous record was 21 strokes under his age and I was like, ‘You’re kidding’. 

“He told me it was a new world record and said it was outstanding. 

In fact, the Guinness World Records has the previous world record at 17, not 21 strokes, so John Powell has really smashed it.

The former record was jointly held by James D. Morton in 2001, and Keith Plowman in 2007. They were both 89 when they shot 72.

Here's the final leaderboard:

Related:

First European country with more women than male members