Mac Meissner's 59 highlights second round of 2023 LECOM Suncoast Classic

Mac Meissner, a 24-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, became the talk of the golf world Friday after shooting a 59 during the second round of the 2023 LECOM Suncoast Classic, held at Lakewood National Golf Club. 

Meissner shot even par (71) during the first round Thursday, but things turned around dramatically in the second round. Meissner, who started on the course's back nine, sank 10 birdies before finishing his round with a 15-foot eagle putt on No. 9. Meissner is the eighth golfer to break 60 on the Korn Ferry Tour and the first since Sam Saunders shot 59 at the 2017 Web.com Tour Championship. 

"I didn't know I was there until I birdied (hole No.) 8," Meissner said. "I thought it was a par 72 because there's four par 5s, but there's five par 3s, so it's a 71. We were like, (hole No.) 9 was downwind, might as well go for a 59. We were kind of in between clubs in the fairway and my caddie looked at me and he goes, 'Are we trying to shoot 59 or are we trying to shoot 60?' So I pulled less club (a 6-iron) and went right at it and ended up hitting it (within) like 15 feet and making it.

"That just goes to show you that every day is different. You wake up, you never know what can happen. I'm just super fortunate to be able to do this in a tournament."

Despite his historic round, Meissner does not sit atop the Suncoast Classic leaderboard. He is in a five-way tie for fourth place with Chris Gotterup, Tommy Gainey, Ben Silverman, Chase Seiffert and Jackson Suber. The top spot belongs to Kevin Dougherty, who shot 9 under par (62) Friday to bring his tournament total to 16 under par. Logan McAllister is alone in second place at 14 under par, and Patrick Cover is in third at 13 under par. 

The cutline for the tournament was 6 under par. Play will continue at 7 a.m. Saturday.