Last updated at 13:07, Thursday, 22 March 2012

Teenage golf star Seb Crookall-Nixon warmed up for the biggest tournament of his career with a sensational 59 at an Isle of Man competition – despite having a SEVEN on his card.

Seb Crookall-Nixon

The 18-year-old England international scored an eagle at the first on his way to a spectacular 10-under-par score while playing in a club competition at Peel Golf Club.

Crookall-Nixon spent the weekend on the island to prepare for next month’s Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club in South Carolina, USA, where he will be part of a 54-strong field of elite under-19 players from around the world.

He also scored back-to-back birdies on the third and fourth and eighth and ninth, with the only blemish on his card at the par five seventh where he dropped two shots after shooting out of bounds.

The Cockermouth School sixth former, from Papcastle, scored further birdies at the 11th, 12th 13th and 14th, meaning he needed only one more to break 60.

A par on 15 narrowed the chances but after holing a long putt on 16 he was back on track for a 59.

Then he parred the final two holes to complete the round of his life.

In the process, the county star, who plays at Workington Golf Club, reduced his handicap to plus three.

“After the round I went through the score card to see if I could have picked up anymore shots and it was clear that a 54 could have quite possibly have happened,” said Crookall-Nixon.

“With only 25 putts and 13 three's on the score card, I’m certainly thrilled with my achievement and hopefully I can continue that form throughout the season. With the main bulk of the season only 2 weeks away, I can’t wait to get going.”

Crookall-Nixon’s previous best score was a 61 at Cockermouth Golf Club two years ago.

First published at 11:28, Thursday, 22 March 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk