Patrick Reed hits 59 with his choice of lies on the Asian Tour

HONG KONG (AP) — Patrick Reed became the ninth player with a 59 or lower this year to take the lead at the Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour with four straight birdies at 11-under 69 on Saturday.

The score will not be considered a record on the Asian Tour due to the preferred lies where players can lift, clear and place golf balls into short grass.

John Catlin also posted a 59 on the Asian Tour in Macau this year; Another International Series tournament on the Asian Tour remains this record.

Reed opened with five straight birdies and finished with four straight birdies. He was three strokes ahead of India’s Rashid Khan and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong.

This year’s other under-60 tours were two on the PGA Tour, three on the Korn Ferry Tour and one each on the LIV Golf League and PGA Tour Americas. Cristobal Del Solar scored 57 points on the Korn Ferry Tour, his lowest round of the year and matching the lowest round on a professional tour.

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