Newlywed grabs lead

– American rookie Trey Mullinax (above) remained atop the leaderboard after yesterday’s conclusion to the opening round of the lightning-halted US PGA Puerto Rico Open.

Five days after marrying his high school sweetheart, Mullinax fired a bogey-free nine-under par 63 Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead over compatriot DA Points.

Tour rookie Mullinax, who married Abi Essman in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, matched the best opening round in tournament history with his lowest PGA round.

Americans Bill Lunde and Xander Schauffele shared third on 65 with eight others another stroke adrift.

Lightning halted the first round of the US PGA Tour event with 36 players still on the course who completed their opening round yesterday morning.

Three early Friday finishers were level in the pack on 66 for the lowest opening round among those who could not finish Thursday, including Puerto Rico’s Rafael Campos and Americans JJ Spaun and Jonathan Randolph.

The event offers a chance for lesser lights on the PGA Tour to contend while top-ranked talent plays at Austin, Texas, in the World Golf Championships Match-Play tournament.

Mullinax seeks his first PGA crown, while Points chases his third after the 2011 Pebble Beach Pro-Am and 2013 Houston Open.

Despite not playing for six weeks, Points also had a bogey-free round. He opened and closed with birdies in going four-under on the back side, then added birdies at three and seven before holing out from the fairway at the ninth for an eagle from 146 yards with a nine-iron to finish on Millinax’s heels. – AFP

Miami