Wyatt shoots 57 at Alabama tourney

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MOBILE, Ala. -- Bobby Wyatt shot a 57 at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship.

The University of Alabama-bound teen, who turns 18 this weekend, had 12 birdies, an eagle and five pars Wednesday on the par-71, 6,628-yard course at the Country Club of Mobile. His birdie putt hung on the lip on the 18th green and he had to settle for par.

Wyatt needed 23 putts total and shot a 9-under 26 on the front nine.

The previous low round in the State Junior was 61 by Glenn Northcutt in 2004 on a par-70 layout that measured just over 5,000 yards.

Wyatt has won the state's junior championship the past three years.

Ryo Ishikawa's 58 in the final round of The Crowns tournament on the Japan Tour on May 2 is the lowest score on a major tour.

Wyatt's score was five strokes better than his previous career low, set in a tournament in Louisiana.

"It was unbelievable," he said. "I got off to a fast start with birdies on my first two holes, then was 3-under after four and it kept going from there."

Alabama coach Jay Seawell was among the swelling crowds watching Wyatt's round. He record a 9-under 26 through the first nine holes.

"People were congratulating me as I made the turn, but I knew there was a lot of golf to be played," Wyatt said. "I had to take a few extra practice swings on the 10th tee to get my focus back."

He birdied Nos. 16 and 17 and just missed another on the final hole.

Wyatt was playing with Michael Johnson and Trey Mullinax, who will be his roommate at Alabama.

"They are two good friends of mine and they talked to me as we went around which helped relax me but didn't say anything about the round I was having," Wyatt said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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