Newlywed Mullinax grabs lead

MIAMI: Five days after marrying his high school sweetheart, American rookie Trey Mullinax fired a bogey-free nine-under par 63 to seize a one-stroke lead on Thursday at the storm-hit Puerto Rico Open.

Mullinax, who married Abi Essman in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, matched the best opening round in tournament history with his lowest PGA round to seize a one-stroke lead over compatriot D.A. Points.

Lightning halted the first round of the US PGA Tour event with 36 players still on the course, the nearest of them to the lead being American Jonathan Randoph at six-under with three holes remaining.

Mullinax began on the back nine with three consecutive birdies and added another at the par-five 15th. He added back-toback birdies to open his second nine, two more at four and five and his last at the seventh.

Americans Bill Lunde and Xander Schauffele shared third on 65 with Canada’s David Hearn and Americans Harold Varner, Ricky Barnes, Kevin Tway and J.T. Poston on 66. AFP