Jenks’ Herman fires course record 64 in high winds at Adams GC
Jenks freshman phenom Lisa Herman outdid herself Wednesday. Playing in south winds that gusted up to 40 mph, Herman recorded six birdies and an eagle and shot a women’s course record 64 on Adams Municipal Golf Course in Bartlesville during the Frontier Conference Championship.
Herman is celebrating her 15th birthday Thursday. It is also the birthday of Adams head professional Jimmy Howe, who called her round one of the most remarkable achievements he’s seen in golf.
The overall course record at Adams is 63 set in the 1970s by long-time outstanding amateur Shawn Barker. Herman nearly matched that but had one bogey on her card along with the deluge of birdies and the eagle. It was her lowest round ever, with the previous being a 67 in an American Junior Golf Association event.
“It was hard to comprehend, because I’ve never shot a 64 before, but it’s good to know that I can do it,” Herman said. “It’s a good validation that I have the ability.”
Herman transferred to Jenks from Stanford, California last summer and is the odds-on favorite to capture the Class 6A state championship May 3-4 at Meadowbrook Country Club. She has won six of eight high school events this spring and won the Frontier Conference by 12 shots over Bartlesville’s Josie Clevenger. She is ranked 35th in the AJGA.
Jenks coach Vicki Hughes also called it the most amazing round she’s witnessed. She said Herman was particularly sharp with her short irons and the birdie putts were all from 9 feet or less.
“We’re talking about playing in 35-40 mph winds on a course where the Bermuda has only started coming in and you’re hitting off no grass in a lot of places, the greens have been aerified and it’s just remarkable,” Hughes said. “For her to be that zoned in, she’s got incredible game. She’s a very talented golfer.”
Herman said she was able to keep her drive in the fairways on all but two holes and on those she punched out to within 5 feet and made birdie on both. The winds and dry conditions led to her driving longer than normal and she had lots of wedges in on second shots.
“I was able to control the short irons and get it to stop within 10 feet on a lot of holes,” she said. “And my putting was on as well.”
Hughes said having a golfer of Herman’s level has helped all the other girls on her team strive to raise their level of play to match.
“They love it,” Hughes said. “It pushes them all to compete. When you play up, it makes you raise the level of your game. I as a coach can teach her some things but she also teaches me things.
Jenks won the team title with a 302, followed by Broken Arrow at 330 and Bixby at 342.
