Americans start off well at CIMB Classic
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Eight Americans were among those in sixth place or better Thursday after the opening round of the CIMB Classic, which is sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the Asian Tour.
Bronson Burgoon led with a 9-under-par 63, two strokes ahead of fellow U.S. golfer Austin Cook. Burgoon, 31, offset his lone bogey with eight birdies and an eagle on the par-5 18th on TPC Kuala Lumpur’s West Course. Cook, 27, had no bogeys.
“I drove it well and I putted pretty good, so it was kind of boring golf, but that’s always a good thing,” Burgoon said. “I chipped in for eagle out of the bunker on my ninth hole, which kind of boosted me, then I kept going.”
Americans Billy Horschel and Scott Piercy were tied with Taiwan’s C.T. Pan for third at 65. Another stroke back, the nineway tie for sixth included Justin Thomas, who is No. 4 in the World Golf Ranking. The 2017 PGA Championship winner and former world No. 1 birdied four of his final five holes.
“You have to play well here every day or at least get a round like today … it’s what could end up winning me this golf tournament,” Thomas said. “Not having my best stuff and getting around here in 6 under is huge. I just didn’t take advantage of a couple opportunities and let a couple go, but kind of found something there those last five holes and was able to at least make a good round.”
The other Americans in sixth were Kevin Chappell, Joel Dahmen, J.B. Holmes and Nick Watney, the tournament’s 2012 winner. South Korea’s Byeong-Hun An, England’s Paul Casey, Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen were also in sixth.
Baylor School graduate Keith Mitchell opened with a 70 and was tied for 35th. Former Red Raiders standouts Harris English, Stephan Jaeger and Luke List — who all played the 2018-19 PGA Tour season opener last week in California — are not in the field.
New Zealand’s Danny Lee had the first hole-in-one of the 2018-19 season on the par-3 fourth hole. He used a 9-iron from 145 yards for the third ace of his career.
Ace for co-leader
WALTON HEATH, England — Eddie Pepperell made the first hole-in-one of his career on the way to taking a share of the lead at 5-under 67 after the first round of the British Masters.
Fellow Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Wallace joined him in first place after a windy day at Walton Heath Golf Club on the outskirts of London. Five golfers were tied for fourth.
Pepperell’s ace came when his 5-iron shot from 172 yards on the ninth hole hit the bottom of the flag and bounced high in the air away from the target before spinning back into the cup.
Second-ranked Justin Rose, the tournament’s host, opened with a 74 and was tied for 79th in the European Tour event.
Ten golfers remained on the course when play was suspended due to darkness.
Hataoka goes low
INCHEON, South Korea — Japan’s Nasa Hataoka shot a 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship on Thursday.
Danielle Kang of the United States and Charley Hull of England were tied for second after a chilly, windy, damp day on the Sky 72 Golf Club’s Ocean Course. The event is co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Korea Tour.
Top-ranked Sung Hyun Park of South Korea and Australia’s Minjee Lee were tied for fourth at 68.
Hataoka, 19, had eight birdies through 16 holes to reach 8 under, then dropped a shot at 17. She was ranked in triple digits just a year ago but has climbed to No. 14 and is the top Japanese player.