Golf: Geary's 61 record low at Mount

Josh Geary says it feels great to have sole possession of the course record, especially on his home track - and 60 is not out of reach. Photo / Andrew Warner

About 80 years ago a group of sports people got together to plan what would become the first version of the Mount Maunganui Golf Club.

On Saturday morning, local professional Josh Geary fired a round on the resulting track that was lower than any other from that first day till this.

Preparing on his home course for the New Zealand Open at The Hills Golf Course in Queenstown in early March with a foursome featuring Jason Madden, Bailey Smith and Ryan Steward, Geary had an inauspicious start.

He was just one-under par after four holes before going birdie, eagle, birdie, par, birdie to fire 30 on the front nine in excellent course and weather conditions before closing with a 31 on the back to fire 61 and break the previous record - which he had held with Australian professional Ian Stanley (1975 - 6056m) and Terry Kendall (1969 - 6683m) - by a stroke.

His back nine stalled somewhat, missing chances for birdies on 13, 14 and 15, before two straight birdies left him in striking distance.

In the end, it came down to a left-to-right uphill 20-foot putt on the last.

He binned it.

"It feels great to have sole possession of the course record, especially round my home track," Geary said, before speculating on how low the record could go.

"Breaking 60 will take a hell of a round, but it can be done around the Mount.

"Who knows when or if it will ever happen. I had a chance a few years ago but four-putted the 17th as that was the only cored green on the course. I ended up having a 63."

The 61 represents Geary's lowest ever score to par (-11), but is also memorable for another reason.

Good friend Madden's ace on the par 3 17th was followed by a Geary laser beam that finished two foot short for an easy tap in, setting up the last for a record attempt.

"It was an awesome day for both of us ... and we won the beer too."

Geary's first event of 2015 will be the Whitford Park pro-am on January 18 before heading to the PGA Tour qualification school in China.

The next stop would then be Australasian events including the NZPGA and NZ Open.

It was a weekend of low scoring at the Mount Maunganui club, with Rodney Jackson and Colleen Noble both collecting 25 Stableford points during nine-hole Friday Twilight.

Players also went low at Sunday's Mixed Summer Cup.