Lauri Ruuska wrote his identify into the file books by posting simply the fourth sub-60 spherical in Problem Tour historical past as a 12-under-par 59 gave him the primary spherical lead on the Vierumäki Finnish Problem.
The Finn carded ten birdies and one eagle on his method to a bogey-free 59 and a four-shot lead on a memorable day within the historical past of the Problem Tour.
“It feels fairly superb to shoot 59,” he stated. “It sounds fairly superb to be a part of the 59 membership. Truthfully, I knew it was going to be a low scoring week and I noticed myself with the ability to do it, however I didn’t fairly consider it. The place else would you wish to shoot a 59? Possibly at a Main Championship, however to do it at house is admittedly particular.
“I acquired off to begin, beginning with 4 straight birdies, which was a reasonably fast begin. Within the center stretch I holed putts on 17 and 18, then began the again 9 eagle-birdie. All of the birdies and eagles got here in a pleasant stretch, and I hoped these stretches would final so long as they might. When the putts saved on rolling in, I felt like I couldn’t miss right now. Truthfully it actually felt like that, particularly once I made an extended birdie on seven, in all probability 15 metres for birdie. That made me realise that I used to be one shot away from a rating within the 50s. I rolled it useless centre on quantity eight after which I used to be just a little bit shaky on the final the place I had a shot for a 58 as a result of I do know there aren’t many guys who’ve executed that.
“The ninth gap is generally a par 5, however for the primary time this 12 months we’re taking part in it as a par 4, so it made it much more difficult, particularly once I needed to birdie it. I hit tee shot and simply tried to hit the inexperienced with my strategy. The ball was going straight on the flag, however I pulled it a contact and it landed about 4 metres from the outlet. Emilo Cuartero Blanco was in my group, and he made a putt from the identical line, so I knew it had an opportunity of entering into. I used to be fairly nervous on that putt, for positive.”
Ruuska began his spherical with 4 birdies in a row from the tenth gap and reached the flip with back-to-back positive factors for a six below par entrance 9. He started the house stretch in the identical vein, carding an eagle and a birdie from the primary gap, his tenth, earlier than making three additional positive factors on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes.
Just a few centimetres denied Ruuska the possibility to grow to be solely the second participant in Problem Tour historical past to card a 58 as his birdie try on the final narrowly missed. Nonetheless, it was a day of celebration in entrance of household and mates for the Finn. Compatriot Kristian Kulokorpi and Scot Jack McDonald lie 4 pictures again from Ruuska in a share for second place following their opening rounds of 63.
What number of Problem Tour gamers have shot 59 or higher?
Adrien Mörk carded a 59 on the 2006 Tikida Resorts Agadir Moroccan Traditional, turning into the primary participant to signal for a sub-60 spherical at a European Tour Group staged occasion. He was joined within the historical past books by Nicolò Ravano, who posted a 59 on the 2016 Fred Olsen Problem de España, earlier than Alejandro del Rey went one higher in 2021. The Spainard recorded a spherical of 58 on the Swiss Problem to grow to be the primary participant on both the DP World Tour or Problem Tour to succeed in the feat. Nonetheless the primary day at Vierumäki Resort belonged to Ruuska as he took the lead in fashion and joined the sub-60 membership.
