Bunch breaks 31-year-old CGC course record

GAINESVILLE - Tommy Valentine's picture has hung on the wall at Chattahoochee Golf Course for 31 years, signifying his masterful round of 63 to break Tommy Aaron's course record back in 1973.

Someone call Frames-Unique.

Josh Bunch, a regular at Chattahoochee and a current player on the Hooter's Tour, capped a bogey-free round of 62 Monday to break Valentine's record.

Valentine, now a golf professional in Gross Pointe, Michigan and a 12-year PGA Tour veteran, said he couldn't believe his record stood that long. His record lasted only six years less than Roger Maris' Major League home run record.

"With the technology over the last decade or so, and the great players in the Gainesville area, I don't know how it lasted that long," Valentine said from his shop in Michigan Tuesday.

"I think it's fantastic for him. That's quite a round because that is a very tough course. Now they can finally take my picture down."

For Bunch, the experience was like a pitcher in search of a no-hitter. As the innings go by, the pitcher is usually found sitting all alone at the end of the bench, no one daring to approach in fear they would jinx him, and Bunch said he felt pretty lonely after finishing the Par 4 15th.

He was playing with current Auburn University player Stuart Moore, Joe Ingram and Chattahoochee teaching professional Don Williams, Jr.

"I think after No. 15 they saw what was happening and realized I had a shot and after that no one talked to me," Bunch said. "It was a lonely last three holes."

Bunch, however, said he didn't feel like he had a shot until after he scrambled for a birdie on the Par 5 16th to go to 9-under par, pulling into a tie with Valentine's record

"That's when I started to feel maybe I could break (the record). You try not to think about it that much but at the same time you also recognize that you may never have the chance again," he said.

After the birdie at No. 16, Bunch pared No. 17 and then after a solid second shot onto the green at the Par 4 18th, he stared at a tricky 15-footer for birdie and the course record.

"It was a tough putt because if I went for the birdie it might roll past and leave me a tough par putt. I didn't want to make bogey and not have a chance to at least tie the record. But I also wanted to go for it. It was nerve-wracking," he said.

Bunch said that after standing over the putt for a moment, he almost immediately knew it was going in after stroking it. When the ball rolled into the bottom of the cup, he said it was like a surreal moment.

"The guys were all jumping around and giving high fives but I was pretty nervous standing over the putt so it was more of a kind of relief to me that the round was over," he said. "It took a few minutes to sink in that I had actually done it. It was an amazing day, to say the least."

Valentine, who said he could only recall the last few holes of his round after all this time, however distinctly remembered the Par 5s of No. 14 and No. 16, where he only got pars. Bunch birdied both.

"I had two good birdie putts and missed them both. I missed a couple of other putts so I could've shot 60 or lower. But it usually comes down to putting. I was happy with the 63 but it's great to see someone finally break the record," Valentine said.

The low-key Bunch now will have to deal with his picture being displayed on Chattahoochee's wall.

"I wish they didn't have to do that. But I guess after a while it will be kind of neat to see that up there. But I definitely don't think it will last as long as Tommy's record. At least, I hope not," he said.