PALM DESERT, Calif. — Palm Desert High School junior Max Margolis made history at a local country club on Sunday, breaking a record previously held by PGA Tour major champion Jason Day.
Margolis shot an impressive 8-under 63 from the back tees at Stone Eagle Golf Club in Palm Desert, thanks in part to a rare albatross on the 17th hole.
“From the tips. I was playing with three members there, one of them I know pretty well,” said Margolis, who celebrated his 17th birthday just two days prior. “I was lucky to be invited up there. But from the tips all the way around. I putted everything out. It’s validated by the pro shop, by all the pros there.”
Despite a rough start with a three-putt bogey on the first hole, Margolis managed to bounce back and finish strong, reaching 8 under by the time he reached the par-5 17th.
Describing the crucial shot on the 17th, Margolis said, “I hit the best 3-wood of my life. We got up there and we couldn’t see my ball. We went and checked the hole and that little thing was in there. It was pretty cool.”
The back tees at Stone Eagle, measuring 7,012 yards, were added just six years ago, allowing for a more challenging experience. Margolis now holds the record for the back tees, surpassing the previous best score from those tees.
