Caleb Wassmer shot a 59 Saturday in the opening round of the Evansville Men's City Golf Tournament at Fendrich, setting a course record and becoming the first player in tournament history to break 60 at any of the event's four courses.
The round included 12 birdies and one bogey. Wassmer started on the back nine and caught fire quickly, rattling off seven consecutive birdies beginning at No. 14 before making the turn at 6-under 29.
His only dropped shot came at the par-3 fourth hole, where he hit a five iron to 30 feet and got too aggressive on his first putt, leading to a bogey. He answered immediately. A two-putt birdie at No. 7 followed, then a 12-footer at No. 8. At the par-9, he hit a wedge from 75 yards thin to the back fringe and still drained the 25-foot putt for birdie.
The previous City Tournament record at Fendrich was believed to be 61, a mark shared by three players including Wassmer's father, 10-time City champion Kevin Wassmer. Tournament officials confirmed no player had ever broken 60 at any of the four courses used in the event.
Wassmer said after the round that he believed the number was reachable but did not expect it to happen the way it did.
"59 is something that I knew was probably there if everything came together," he said. "Especially here at Fendrich. The greens have been kind of soft, especially with the rain, and a lot of the work they've done to make the course really nice for us. Granted, I didn't think I'd rattle off seven (birdies) in a row."
He credited a clear game plan from the first tee.
"I had a plan coming in on my tee shots," Wassmer said. "Did a really good job all day. I knew that if I got one or two (at 7) that there was a really good chance with how I was playing, wedging it and putting today. Everything might come together and be able to make a run."
The low scoring was not limited to Wassmer. Thirty-one players finished the opening round in red numbers, and 73 players finished at 2-over or better, roughly half the field. Two-time champion Logan Osborne sits in second place at 7-under after a bogey-free round. He played alongside Wassmer during the historic afternoon. Blake Ruckman posted a 66 in the morning to sit third.
A large group of contenders sits at 5-under, including Jace Day, Wade Worthington, Alex Cook, and two-time defending champion Peyton Blackard. Walker Beck, Luke Johnston, Daymian Rij, and Hank Schreiber are all at 4-under.
The second round moves to Helfrich, with the low 40 and ties advancing to the final rounds at Rolling Hills and Evansville Country Club.
