HARTFORD, Wis. – It was a tale of two nines for Lawrence University golfer John Pechan on Monday, and he finished with a storybook ending.
Pechan (Bothell, Wash./Bothell) fired a 64 to tie the course record and set the school record on the par-72 layout at Washington County Golf Course. Pechan played the back nine first and made the turn in even-par 36 but then carded an 8-under 28 on the front nine.
Pechan, who shot 77 on Sunday, won the tournament by six shots with a 36-hole score of 141.
“I wasn’t putting well on the back nine,” said Pechan, a freshman who won the Ripon Invitational in last start. “Once I got to the front nine I missed a five-foot putt for birdie on the first hole and then I didn’t make any mistakes.”
After a birdie at No. 2, Pechan hit a 4-iron to eight feet at the 535-yard par-5 third hole. He drained that putt for an eagle and then made a 30-footer for birdie on the fourth hole. Pechan then birdied the par-4 fifth hole before making a par at No. 6.
Pechan chipped in for birdie on the par-5 seventh hole. He then hit a wedge to less than a foot for a tap-in birdie on the par-4 eighth. Pechan finished his final nine with a chip-in birdie at the 450-yard par-4 ninth.
Pechan said breaking 30 for nine holes was definitely on his mind as the round progressed.
“When I was five under through five holes I started thinking about it,” Pechan said. “I’ve always wanted to get a 29 and that was definitely in the back of my mind.”
Pechan’s 64 ties the course record of former UW-Parkside standout Andy Hanson, who shot his score at a qualifier for the 2009 United States Amateur Public Links Championship. Officials at Washington County said Pechan’s 28 set a record for a nine-hole score at the course.
Pechan broke the Lawrence record of 67, which was set by All-American and Appleton native Joe Loehnis at the Wartburg College Invitational on April 8, 2006. Pechan’s previous low was 66, which he shot at his home course, Harbour Pointe Golf Club in Mukilteo, Wash.
Lawrence carded team scores of 336 and 316 to finish in 12th place with a score of 652. Aurora University won the team title.