Matt Jones ties record at Honda Classic
Former Chico High standout Kitayama tied for 14th at Magical Kenya Open
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. >> Matt Jones’ opening round at the Honda Classic was remarkable.
He was remarkably unimpressed.
Jones tied the course record Thursday on a typically windy day at PGA National with a bogey-free 9-under 61 giving him a three-shot lead. He matched the mark set by Brian Harman in the second round in 2012, and was one shot better than the final-round 62 that Tiger Woods posted that year.
“That’s an incredible round of golf,” said Lee Westwood, who opened with an even-par 70. “Could be the round of the year, 61 around here, when it’s flat calm, impressive. But when there’s a 15-, 20-mile-an-hour wind blowing, greens are fast, a lot of crosswinds, that’s an incredible round of golf.”
All told, there have been roughly 6,000 tournament rounds at the Honda since it moved to PGA National in 2007. None was better than the one
Thursday from Jones, an Australian ranked No. 83 in the world.
Russell Henley and Aaron Wise shot 64s, matching the best score at the Honda by anyone — Jones excluded — since Rory McIlroy and Russell Knox had 63s in 2014. Nobody in the field last year shot better than a 66. DIVOTS >> Among notables, Zach Johnson was in a group six shots back after shooting 67, Rickie
Fowler finished even par and Phil Mickelson shot a 1-over 71. ... Sean O’Hair (80) withdrew after the round and James Hahn withdrew after 16 holes with a rib injury . ... Erik Compton, a South Florida native and two-time heart transplant recipient, finished at even par. Compton was a Monday qualifier this week . ... This is the 15th time the Honda is being played at PGA National.
No first-round leader on this course has won the tournament; the last first-round leader to win the Honda was Justin Leonard in 2003 at Mirasol . ... The previous best first-round score at the Honda was 62 by Tim Herron in 1996, at Eagle Trace.
HERBERT LEADS BY 1 AT EUROPEAN TOUR’S KENYA OPEN >> Benjamin Herbert shrugged off a bogey on his first hole to card a 7-under 64 for the first-round lead at the European Tour’s Kenya Open.
The Frenchman followed his slip at No. 1 with four birdies in his next six holes at Karen Country Club in Nairobi to go one shot clear of six players tied for second.
The Kenya Open is being played for just the second time on the tour. It made its debut in 2019 but was called off last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Former Chico High standout Kurt Kitayama shot a 4-under 67 and stands tied for 14th.
Former Chico State standout Brandon Harkins shot a 1-over 72 in the first round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s Louisiana Open and he is tied for 49th.