November 5, 2018
BYU’s Peter Kuest Cards Course Record 61 at Poppy Hills
Brigham Young University junior Peter Kuest got off to a record start at this week’s annual St. Mary’s Invitational at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course.
Kuest, who grew up in Fresno and played on the Junior Tour of Northern California, fired a record, bogey-free 10-under 61 in Monday’s first round. The previous men’s low was 63, co-held by Champions Tour pro Scott McCarron and Kaito Onishi. McCarron posted his round during the 2017 PGA Tour Champions PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee. Onishi matched the feat two months later, playing for USC in the St. Mary’s Invitational.
The course was playing at 6,945 yards. It played at 6,898 when McCarron shot his score.
“I was just knocking it really tight all day,” said Kuest, who only missed two greens in regulation. “Everything was pretty good. It was easy.”
Starting on the back-nine, Kuest got birdies on holes 12, 13 and 15. He’d close with an eagle on the par-5 18th after knocking his approach shot (a 6-iron from 207 yards out) to within 5 feet of the flagstick. On the back-nine, he’d post five more birdies on holes No.2, 3. 6, 7 and 9 for a 30. On three of the par-3’s, Kuest’s tee shot stopped within 2 feet of the pin.
“You have to hit the ball really well here,” said Kuest, who also played the course at last year’s Invitational. “It’s a ball-striking course. You have to leave it around the green and give yourself good looks.”
-NCGA Staff
