Australian golfer Rhein Gibson sets world record with 16-under-par round of 55

AUSSIE golfer Rhein Gibson has set a provisional new world record for the lowest round in golf, shooting a 16-under-par 55.

Scorecard

LITTLE-KNOWN Australian professional Rhein Gibson has provisionally set a new world record for the lowest round in golf, shooting a 16-under-par 55 at the River Oaks Golf Club in Oklahoma.

The 26-year-old from Lismore in New South Wales was playing at his 'local' course in Oklahoma with two friends, having spent his college years in the area with Oklahoma Christian University.

Only Homero Blancas, a PGA Tour player from the 1960s, has ever recorded a 55 before, but on a par-70 course of just 5000 yards.

This score was originally in the Guinness Book of World Records but taken out after harder qualifying rules were set.

Gibson's round falls into the record parameters and, once cleared, will be a new world mark.

Starting on the back nine of the 6698-yard par-71 course, Gibson started with a routine par before notching up two eagles and a birdie in his next three holes.

He then continued his birdie blitz with five straight to close out a mind-boggling nine holes in 26 shots, 10 under par.

Forced to wait 15 minutes at the turn Gibson could only manage pars on the first two holes but then birdied six of the last seven to post an incredible 55.

"I just kind of got hot I guess and every putt I hit went in, that's the best I can explain it to be honest," Gibson said.

As he faced an eight-foot birdie putt on his final hole Gibson knew history was in the offing but felt calm.

"I wasn't nervous. I had this song playing in my head. It is that new one from the Eli Young Band. It was in there all day."

Gibson is aspiring to join the PGA Tour, playing the smaller Golfweek National Pro Tour, and through six events is 12th on the money list.

To read Gibson's playing partner's play-by-play account of his amazing round, click here.