By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
OTTAWA, Canada – In the aftermath of his spectacular 13-under 59 round Saturday, Shreveport’s Phillip Barbaree Jr. foreshadowed his outcome Sunday on the PGA Americas Tour in the Commissionaires Ottawa Open at Eagle Creek Golf Club.
“It’s historically hard to follow up a really low round with another (low) round,” he said in Saturday’s post-round press conference.
“If I go on to play great tomorrow, then it was meant to be. If not, we’ll go on to next week and use this day as positive vibes.”
Barbaree couldn’t rekindle the magic in Sunday’s final 18 holes, carding an even-par 72 to stay at 20-under par and slip from a two-shot lead to finish 10th in the tournament. Incredibly, it was won by another player who shot 59 – Brett White, who rolled in a 63-foot eagle putt on the last hole to finish his masterpiece Sunday, then won a three-man playoff to capture the tournament title.
There was only one prior sub-60 round on the PGA Americas Tour in its 1½-season existence, and three prior ones on the two tours that are its forerunners, prior to Barbaree’s performance Saturday.
The former Byrd and LSU golfer began Saturday at 7-under through 36 holes. He posted 11 birdies – six straight from holes 7-12 — and a closing eagle on the par-5 18th, after he stuffed a 7-iron second shot from the rough to four feet and drained the putt.
“It was an amazing day,” Barbaree said post-round. “Today was one of those days I just kind of let it happen, and it felt easy.”
Barbaree entered the week 35th in the PGA Americas Fortinet Cup standings and advanced nine spots with the 67-70-59-72 – 268 finish. Seven tournaments remain. The 10 players with the most points will earn Korn Ferry Tour cards.
There were three sub-60 rounds this century prior to the 2024 merger of PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica, then one player shot 59 last season. In PGA Tour history, only 15 scores of 59 have been recorded.
Barbaree, 27, turned pro in 2021. He soared to national prominence in June when he made the 36-hole cut at the U.S. Open and shared a joyful hug with wife Chloe, who has served as his caddy since last fall following their marriage last summer. The media and galleries at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club embraced their storyline. Barbaree finished 66th in his second U.S. Open appearance, and the first made cut.
The happy couple hugged again immediately after his closing eagle Saturday, then later posed for a commemorative photo with the scorecard.
“It’s awesome,” he said Saturday. “She started caddying for me up here in Canada, last year at Edmonton. Played good there and just kept it rolling. These kind of days, and U.S. Open, it all just builds. It’s so great to be able to one day look back and see these memories we’ve made together. It’s special.”
Chloe admittedly isn’t steeped in golf insight, but her husband has noted that she helps him most with his mindset – boosting his confidence and keeping him relaxed.
“I don’t think we talked a whole lot today. She was just telling me here and there about some Tic Tocs she was watching, and that’s about it,” he said, laughing.
Even before Sunday’s round, Barbaree had a healthy perspective on his incredible Saturday score.
“Any time you shoot 59, that’s an awesome thing. We’ve been out here playing for about three seasons, seen the ups and downs. Just to have an up here, and to have a great memory and with my wife on the bag, that’s a really good day.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com