Bochum – „It’s so cool how fast the news of my result is spreading.I just wanted to get my mobile to take a photo of the scorecard, and as I turned it on, I already had 80 new messages.” The 59 strokes of his first round, 13 under par with 13 birdies, were a huge attraction in golf – with great justice. Hinrich Arkenau is now on out of 14 players worldwide, who achieved a 59 on a par-72 course. Arkenau also is after Martin Kaymer, who signed a 59 on his scorecard in 2006, the second German to achieve this record-score, and the third player in Pro Golf Tour history. 2015 the Dutchman Robin Kind achieved a 59, also at the Sparkassen Open in Bochum.

“You just play on and try to do your best for every hole. I was pleased about every birdie, but I didn’t think about the 59 at all. It’s always a possibility, but it never seems that close. Until the last putt went into the whole, I hadn’t even considered a 59.” Only in hindsight did his knees start to shake: “It takes a while to get your head around this kind of result. But it’s a great feeling! The 59 feels like a tournament victory, it can never be taken away from you.” Indeed he didn’t let go of the victory as well, even though it got very close: After finishing round 2 with 65, Arkenau retained the lead with 20 under par and held a six stroke advantage towards Dylan Boshart from the Netherlands. But in the final round he nearly lost the lead after a 68. Ben Parker from England played a 62, and by that the best score of the final day. Parker, who had already won twice ni 2017, hoped for a third victory, which would have made him promote directly to the Challenge Tour.

But it ended in a victory for Arkenau, who had a special surprise for his mother: “The day I played the 59 was her 60^th birthday, and I couldn’t be there to celebrate. But at least I could make her a special birthday present with that score”, the champion said.

The tours next stop is the Zell am See – Kaprun Open 2017 presented by Salzburger Land, which starts at July 17.