Dream round of 58 by Maruyama not recorded

Shigeki Maruyama shot a sensational 13-under-par in the US Open qualifying at Woodmont County Club in Rockville, Maryland.

The Japanese golfer eagled the 381-yard par-four ninth hole when his 80-yard wedge found the cup and this, coupled with four earlier birdies, helped him to a six-under-the-card 29 shots on the front nine.

He recorded four birdies in succession on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th, before closing with three birdies for a magnificent 58.

His round will not be recognised as a record because it was not set in a PGA tour event.

Five US players share the PGA tour record of 59: David Duval, Chip Beck, Al Geiberger, Doug Dunakey and Notah Begay.

Speaking about a round that included 11 birdies and an eagle Maruyama admitted: "Most of my shots this morning were perfect.

"I wanted to make a good score and I felt that I needed to play well in my morning round because I heard that rain was coming." The previous course record for the South Course at Woodmont was 60.

Maruyama, who was born and resides in Chiba, Japan turned professional in 1992 and initially was a regular winner on the Japanese tour.

He first came to the attention of the golf world when he was a surprise star of the President's Cup (a tournament where the USA play the Rest of the World team, excluding Europe) when he enjoyed a 5-0 record.

Among his victories in Japan was the Japan PGA Championship, the Pocari Sweat Yomiuri Open and the PGA Matchplay.

In 1999 he reached the quarter-finals of the Andersen Consulting Matchplay Championship. He finished tied 10th at the Bell South Classic and sixth at the NEC invitational. Known for his ready smile on a golf course he first shot an even par round when he was 11 and, in his early golfing career, made regular appearances on the Japanese variety show called Yume-ga-MoriMori (Lots of Dreams).