Georgia teen fires course-record 56

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- Colin Bowles may be living in Georgia now, but he isn't done tearing through courses back in the Mountain State.

The 16-year-old, who recently moved from Wyoming County to Albany, Ga., broke his own record Wednesday at Clearfork Valley Golf Course, his home course, formerly run by his dad, Toney, and now run by his older brother, Corey.

Bowles carded 12 birdies and an eagle on No. 5 for the round of 56, breaking his former best of 58. He had a 12-foot putt for 55 on No. 18 but couldn't get it to fall.

"I putted great," he said of his overall round. "Obviously you can't shoot a score like that without putting well."

Bowles made the turn at 27 from the blue tees, the tips at Clearfork Valley, and admitted feeling some nerves coming down the stretch.

Sitting at 12-under heading to the par-5 16th, he chipped it close for birdie and then drove the green on the par-4 17th. He two-putted for birdie there, his 12th of the day.

The former Westside star said he's adjusting to the heat in Georgia and to the new course his father owns and operates, River Pointe Golf Club.

"It's a tough course," said Bowles. "The back 9 is really tight. It's improved my accuracy, because it's the 9 I play all the time if I'm by myself. Even-par on the back 9 is a great score."

Bowles said his best score at River Pointe is a 69.

This article was written by Cam Huffman from The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va. and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.