16-Year-Old Golfer Sets Record with 56-Shot Round at West Virginia Course

Colin Bowles runs Clearfork Valley Golf Course.

Well, that's not entirely accurate. His older brother, Corey, runs it. Colin is more like the owner or CEO, having reaffirmed himself as the course's one and only king after shooting a course-record 56 from the blue tees on Wednesday.

The Register-Herald's Cam Huffman (h/t PGA.com) reports Colin notched 12 birdies and an eagle during the round, breaking the former course record of 58—a record he had also set.

"I putted great," Colin said. "Obviously you can't shoot a score like that without putting well." 

Colin's round was essentially a hero returning home to demolish an already defeated nemesis.

Originally from Wyoming County where Clearfork is located, his family has since moved to Albany, Georgia, where his father now owns the River Pointe Golf Club—a more difficult course Colin has been learning to master.

"It's a tough course," Colin said. "The back nine is really tight. It's improved my accuracy, because it's the nine I play all the time if I'm by myself. Even par on the back nine is a great score."

So far, Colin's best score on his dad's new course is a 69—a great score, by all measures, but still a solid 13 strokes off the mark set at his old stomping ground. 

The good news is he's still 16 and will probably be barking up Jordan Spieth's heels by the time he's threatening 20. 

Dan is on Twitter. He considers even par on any nine nothing short of a religious miracle.