Two duos went low on the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans as Patton Kizzire and his companion Ben Kholes are tied with Mark Hubbard and Ryan Brehm.
Every staff fired off bogey-free 11-under 61s to steer by one shot over three groups at 10-under, as of this writing.
Kizzire and Kholes made six birdies on the entrance 9 to make the flip in 30 photographs. Coming residence, they added 4 birdies between holes 10-14. The duo birdied the 18th to return residence in 31 strokes to cap off a powerful first spherical.
“Nicely, we got here out of the gates each taking part in very well, each birdieing the identical holes. Ideally, we’d like to combine it up. However we began effectively and simply stored it going,” Kizzire stated. “Every time one in all us wanted the opposite, we stepped up and ham-and-egged it. He was a incredible companion. I wanted him on the market, and he stepped up.”
Each have performed on the Zurich Traditional, however it’s their first time collectively.
“It’s fairly enjoyable simply getting out right here, and like he stated, having a companion. Not one thing we get to do rarely. It’s enjoyable sort of leaning on another person and having that camaraderie on the market,” Kholes stated.
Day 2 will characteristic a brand new format in Alternate-shot, which might be tough. Nevertheless, for this duo, the sport plan will stay the identical.
“Simply attempting to place ourselves in the most effective spots that we are able to and selecting one another up when one thing doesn’t go proper,” Kholes stated. “That’s all you are able to do. Simply keep within the second and hit the most effective shot you possibly can at every level, and we’ll see the place that places us.”
They weren’t the one gamers to seek out success; they matched Hubbard and Brehm for the low spherical of the day.
Groups that additionally carried out effectively within the 4-Ball format on Thursday had been Davis Thompson and Andrew Novak, who posted a 10-under 62.
One of many Canadian duos, Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith, are two photographs again after they carded a 9-under 63. Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala completed Day 1 with a 7-under 65.
The betting favorites coming into the week, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, settled for a 7-under 65 to take a seat 4 photographs behind the leaders.
The afternoon wave acquired a bit of extra wind on the golf course than the morning teams, however a couple of teams had been poised to go low. Keith Mitchell and Joel Dahmen are 7-under via 11 holes. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are additionally 7-under via 10 holes to start out the again 9.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. For extra golf protection, you should definitely comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. It’s also possible to comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
