Three share lead as new PGA year begins
NAPA, Calif. — Brendan Steele began his bid to repeat as the Safeway Open champion with a 7-under-par 65 Thursday, which was good for a share of the lead with Tyler Duncan and Tom Hoge in the PGA Tour’s season opener.
Lucas Glover, Emiliano Grillo, Jamie Lovemark and Chez Reavie were two shots back at 67.
Steele had an eagle, six birdies and a bogey. Last year at Silverado Resort, he birdied the final three holes to overcome a four-shot deficit and beat Patton Kizzire by a stroke for his second PGA Tour title.
“A little bit of everything worked for me today,” Steele said Thursday. “I had a really good ball-striking day. I don’t think I missed a green, so that really helps. And then I had a good putting day as well, so you put that together and it’s going to be pretty good.
Duncan, making his first start as a PGA Tour member, also had six birdies, an eagle and a bogey.
“I thought the course would fit my game because hitting the fairways is important,” said Duncan, whose only other PGA Tour event was the 2015 U.S. Open. “There are a lot of sections in the greens that you’ve got to hit into, and to hit it into those sections from the rough is pretty challenging.”
Zach Johnson, a 12-time PGA Tour winner playing the event for the first time, had a 68 with five birdies and a bogey. Phil Mickelson, a 42-time PGA Tour winner beginning his 27th season, birdied the 18th from seven feet away for a 69.
Four former Baylor School golfers are in the field, all of them as PGA Tour members. Stephan Jaeger and Keith Mitchell are new to the tour, while Harris English and Luke List are veterans.
English and Jaeger were among those tied for 24th at 70. List and Athens, Tenn., native Eric Axley were in the group tied for 61st at 72. Mitchell had a share of 120th after a 75.
Dunne on top again
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Paul Dunne picked up where he left off at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, holding a share of the lead after the opening round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Four days after winning the British Masters, Dunne shot a 5-under 67 in the three-course event on the Old Course. Col-leader Nicolas Colsaerts’ score represented a strong recovery after a triple-bogey 7 on the third hole at Kingsbarns.
Five players were tied for third at 4 under — Oliver Fisher, Tyrell Hatton (last year’s tournament winner) and Shane Lowry, who all began at the Old Course.
Ten players were at 3 under, including Scot David Drysdale and Ben Evans, who recorded the best scores at the third course being used, Carnoustie.