From the Clubhouse
by Randy Dodson
Randy Dodson is the publisher of Fairways

Summer - August - 06
Looking at a 62

Not many of us have seen a 62.

We thought maybe you would like to see what a 62 looks like on a tournament score card so we took a picture of Michael McRae’s. Michael recorded the remarkable score on the Silver Course during his second round of the match play qualifying portion of this year’s State Amateur at Soldier Hollow.

While ideal playing conditions can explain away a two, three or even a four-under round, signing for a 62 requires a little more than a gentle breeze and receptive greens. What does it take to card a 62? How about seven consecutive 3s! His 7 birdies, two eagles were accompanied by one lone bogey, a three putt from 15 feet. The 10-under, 62 backed up a 67 he shot on the Gold Course a day earlier, also the course record.

Head pro Chris Newson and other Soldier Hollow staff members may have been shaking their heads a little at the record rounds but McRae, who was the State Am defending champion, has all the shots and will certainly take his shot at the big time. In fact, according to UGA records, the last 62 fired in State Amateur play bodes well for McRae’s goal of playing professionally. It was recorded over two decades ago by Jay Don Blake, who later went on to a very nice career on the PGA TOUR.

What did McRae have to say about his career low round? “I just looked down and I was pretty low,” he said. “This is a round I will remember, for sure.”