Golf ball with negative hardness gradient core

A golf ball comprising:

• a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core;
• said single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface;
• the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center, an outer core region adjacent the outer surface, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions and extending radially from about 10 mm to about 16 mm from the geometric center;
• the single layer core further having a first hardness disposed within the inner core region, a second hardness disposed within the outer core region, and a third hardness disposed within the intermediate core region,
• wherein the third hardness is from about 40 Shore C to about 95 Shore C and is greater than the first hardness and the second hardness, and
• wherein there is at least one hardness in the outer core region that is substantially the same as or less than a hardness in the inner core region.