Swede Johan Edfors equalled the lowest round of The European Tour season then modestly described it as “really solid” at the Vivendi Cup 2010.
The Swede, a three-time winner in 2006 but without a title since, completed a 61 which knocked two strokes off his best score.
Edfors had five birdies in an outward 31 and then started for home with three more birdies and an eagle.
The European Tour's first-ever 59 was a possibility at that stage, but the former Barclays Scottish Open and British Masters champion bogeyed the next before finishing with two more birdies.
It gave him a two shot lead over England's David Dixon, while the scoring was such that Padraig Harrington did not even make the top 20 with his four under round.
“That is pretty good - I played really solid today actually,” said the 34 year old.
“I holed a couple of good putts, but still a little bit disappointed. I don't think I'll ever get a better chance to shoot 59 than I had today.
"I was ten under with five to go and I had 80 metres left on 14 in the middle of the fairway and I bogeyed that one and then I birdied 17 and 18 coming in. So felt a little bit better but had a really good chance for a 59 there, I was playing really nice.
“So I really felt that I had a good chance there. I mean, I was stroking the putter really good, but unfortunately three putted 14 there, still nice, but the good finish with birdie on 17 and 18.”
Dixon also produced the lowest round of his European Tour career at Golf de Joyenval, and it could be crucial as far as his European Tour future is concerned.
The 33 year old is 145th on The Race to Dubai and knows all too well that he needs to be in the top 115 to retain his European Tour card.
However, he is no stranger to retaining playing privileges late in the season - his top ten finish at last year's UBS Hong Kong Open secured his card for 2010 with the last throw of the dice.
"I've been driving it great, hitting the driver really good and putting myself right up by the greens," said Dixon.
"And my wedge play has been really good as well, been working on that a bit. It's easy when you're hitting it off the fairway with a wedge in your hand and getting the yardages spot on and then the putts drop, as well. That's a bonus, isn't it?
"I got a bit of confidence early on. I hit a bad tee shot on the first into the forest and hacked it out and put it on the green and holed about an eight foot putt for a par.
"And then I thought, that's just nice, made a really good par, and just feels good and gives you that bit of confidence over the next few."
Dixon’s compatriot John Parry was joined by France’s Jean-François Remesy in a tie for third on eight under.
And Parry admitted he also had the elusive 59 on his mind at one stage.
"I birdied the first, I had a good putt, I bogeyed the second, and then I had four in a row where I really didn't really hole any, like I was hitting it to three foot and stuff and stopping it, so it was nice,” said Parry.
“I think I got it eight under through 12, so I was looking at I thought a good chance of 59. Then missed a birdie putt on the par five, so that sort of stopped the momentum - I think I parred through the par fives, which if anything to be disappointed about, that was it.
“We said in the practise round that I think somebody is going to shoot 59. If the weather stays good, the fairways are pretty bouncy, and the greens are soft, and good, so it's a good combination for shooting low numbers.”
