Steven Armstrong has done some pretty special things in golf but on Saturday he achieved something that every top-level amateur has right near the top of their bucket list.
Playing in a mixed stableford medal at his home course Turnhouse, the 48-year-old from Edinburgh shot 59.
In 1998 Steven qualified for the British Open at Royal Birkdale and three years earlier won the individual title at the NAIA Men’s Golf Championship while studying at Pfeiffer University (North Carolina) but at the weekend he rolled back the years to record eight birdies nine pars and a stunning eagle at the last.
“I went a bit daft when the putt went in at 18 and it took about 10 minutes to chill out enough to put my score in,” said the one-time pro.
Steven had to hole a 20 footer at the last to break 60 for the first time and also record his first-ever 10 under par round. He also smashed the Turnhouse course record by four shots – he was one of the previous joint holders.
“My lowest before the week was 62 twice before – once at Longniddry and once at Leven. A few years back I was playing a lot more so I thought my chances of ever breaking 60 had gone.”
Amazingly he was playing in the same group as Anne Hanson, who earlier in the week had broken the women’s course record (70).
Steven was six under for the front nine. He drove the green at the short par four second and two putted to go two under and also birdied the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth.
Having navigated the tough 10th and 12th, he reached seven under at the 13th and would also birdie the next before rounding things off in style with a brilliant three at the last.