Lauren Olivares Leon, a North Carolina State student, made history by becoming the first female to shoot 60 in the Cougar Classic’s opening round. Yeamans hall club’s 11-under round included 13 birdies, and only two bogeys. A total of 17 men have shot 60 at collegiate events.
Golfstat’s original live scoring had Olivares as having scored a 59, a score that neither a male nor female college player has ever achieved. On the seventh hole, there was an error in scoring. Golfstat credited Olivares Leon with a birdie even though she had made par. Her official score card correctly recorded the score.
Seth Raynor’s design covered 6,269 yards.
Lauren Olivares Leon’s scorecard at North Carolina State (courtesy Page Marsh).
Olivares Leon is a Mexican junior who ranks 182nd on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He began his day with a birdie at the 10th. She birdied two of the nine holes on the back to reach the turn in 32 and then shot a 28 on the front with eight birdies.
Then she returned to the course for a second round, completing a 36-hole game.
Page Marsh, the head coach of the team, texted: “She was on fire.”
Five women in the history women’s college-golf have achieved rounds of 61:
- 61 – Anna Zanusso (Denver University): Second round at the Westbrook Invitational, Peoria Arizona, February 23, 2020
- 61 – Julia Johnson, University of Mississippi, Third round of the Battle at the Beach, San Jose del Cabo Mexico, Nov. 3, 2019.
- 61 – Bianca Pagdanganan of Gonzaga: Second Round of the Pizza Hut Thunderbird Invitational at George, Utah on 17 March 2017
- 61 – Esther Lee (University of Colorado): First round of Dick McGuire Invitational at Albuquerque in New Mexico on September 12, 2016.
- 61 – Mariah Stackhouse (Stanford): Second round at the Peg Barard Invitational, Stanford, California on February 17, 2013.
