Mr 59 - Ravano reflects on making history

It was definitely the best round of my life.

Nicolo Ravano arrives at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge this week knowing he will be forever part of one of the Challenge Tour and European golf’s most exclusive groups: the 59 club.

The Italian made ten birdies and an eagle during last week’s Fred Olsen Open de España to record only the second 59 on any of the Challenge Tour, European Tour or the Senior Tour and match Adrien Mӧrk’s score from ten years ago, also on the Challenge Tour.

Even five days later, the 31 year old is still basking in the glow of his glorious achievement, and will use the inevitable confidence boost that comes with it when he tees up at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil this week.

On Thursday I said, 'how can you shoot ten under? It's really hard, I don't see that.' Next morning I shot 59!

“It was definitely the best round of my life,” he said. “I played absolutely solid from the start and I actually was not expecting such a low round – my golf isn’t that good at the moment.

“I played a lot on the European Tour this year and that hadn’t been going well so I decided for this stretch to play some Challenge Tour. I changed coach and am working out some new things, and I think they’re going ok!

“I was actually thinking about the cut during the round, because I knew it was going to be six under and I only shot two under on the Thursday. I was focusing on that so once I reached four under for the day, I just relaxed and everything went well – my putter was on fire and the eagle on 18 was a nice surprise.

“I don’t want to say I was in the zone, I was just me like always. I wasn’t thinking too much about the score, I wasn’t thinking about 59 at all, I was just really enjoying the round and enjoying the golf I was playing, and it just happened.

“Knowing that there was a 60, guys shooting ten under or 11 under, we were talking at dinner on Thursday night and I was saying, ‘how can you shoot ten under? It’s really hard, I don’t see that!’ and the next morning I shot 12 under!

“After a 59 it’s tough to play another round because you’re still a bit shaken but I stayed really focused on the tournament and I’m happy about it, especially the back nine on the Sunday, and second place was great.

“It’s really special to be in the 59 club – someone was telling me to contact Steve Flesch or David Duval because they have an association and give some sort of prize if you make 59, so I need to look into that.

“Knowing that I’m going to be part of Challenge Tour and European golf history forever is pretty special – people talk a lot about it but I didn’t realise it was quite that special, only 15 in the world ever to shoot it and now only two in Europe.

“I don’t know if it can ever happen again, but knowing that you can go so low gives you a better mindset for any time you go on the course, knowing you can go low with no problems.”