Three tied for lead at Colonial
DeLaet tops among six Canadians
Jon Rahm was at Colonial during tournament week each of the past two years to accept the Ben Hogan Award that goes to the nation’s top college golfer.
This time, he’s playing in the PGA Tour event at Hogan’s Alley and among the leaders.
With his 4-under 66 on Thursday, Rahm was a stroke behind first-round leaders Kelly Kraft, Derek Fathauer and PGA Tour rookie J.T. Poston.
That also put Rahm ahead of two-time Colonial champs Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson after both birdied their last three holes for 67s. He also led 2016 winner Jordan Spieth, whose even-par round included six birdies.
The 22-year-old Rahm, the winner at Torrey Pines in January, had only one bogey while playing with Masters champion Sergio Garcia, the fellow Spaniard who won in his first Colonial appearance in 2001.
“The last two times I was here, all I recorded was super happy and positive memories,” Rahm said. “It’s just the vibe that I have around this place is so positive, especially with Sergio winning and with the Ben Hogan history that I’m related to now.”
Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask. was the top Canadian at 1-under 69. Other Canadians include Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. at even-par 70, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford at 1-over 71, Dave Hearn of Brantford, Ont. at 2-over 72, Jamie Sadlowski of St. Paul, Alta. at 3-over 73 and Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton at 5-over 75.
Kraft, along with Graeme McDowell who is tied for fourth, had the only bogeyfree rounds. Only 33 of the 121 players finished the first round under par.
Scott Brown had the other 66, and had the outright lead at 6-under before a double bogey at No. 18.
Spieth, coming off missed cuts the past two weeks, was tied for 34th with six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. He was even par after birdies on his last two holes.
“It’s a great finish. Kept me in the tournament,” Spieth said. “If I was a couple over, you know, in the back of my mind I would be wondering about the cut line.”
Spieth got in trouble with some wayward drives.
“Hit some very solid shots. With gusty winds, it’s not going to end up where you think it’s going to a lot of the time,” Spieth said. “I felt like I missed some fairways by one to five yards today. That made a complete difference in the way the hole played.”