Baylor group in good shape
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Cole Hammer would have been happy with pars in the cold and wind. He wound up with more birdies than he imagined Thursday for an 8-under-par 64 and the low score to par after one round of the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic.
“It was really cool looking at the top and seeing my last name there,” Hammer said of the leaderboard.
Cool applied more literally to the field, with temperatures in the 50s and feeling even colder with the wind off the Atlantic Ocean. This was a day for wool caps, layers of long sleeves and mittens. As usual at this tournament, that didn’t stop the low scoring at Sea Island Golf Club.
Hammer, who graduated from Texas in May, shared the low score with another former Longhorn, Beau Hossler — whose 6-under 64 came at the host Seaside course, which played about two shots more difficult to par than the Planation layout that Hammer navigated.
“He’s making me look average,” Hossler said when he finished his round and Hammer already was 8 under with three holes to play.
Hammer’s big run ended with a bad swing that sent him into the trees right of the par-5 eighth fairway. He took a penalty drop and wound up with a bogey.
“It’s a tough course even with no wind and decent temperature,” Hossler said. “To shoot the number I did in these conditions was excellent.”
England’s Callum Tarren also had a 64 at Seaside, while Ben Griffin had a 7-under 65 on the Plantation. Griffin had a great chance at winning in Bermuda three weeks ago until a rough back nine. In the final official PGA Tour event of 2022, he might get another shot at victory.
All four Baylor School graduates on the tour are in the field, and Stephan Jaeger and Keith Mitchell were among those tied for sixth at 5 under after each had a 67 on the Plantation. Each made an eagle — Jaeger on the par-5 18th hole before making the turn and Mitchell on the par-4 15th, his sixth hole of the day.
Harris English was tied for 17th at 4 under after a 68 on the Plantation, and was tied for 46th at 2 under after a Seaside 68.