Mccumber in a four-way share of lead after 1 round
Nearly two-thirds of 144-man field is below par to start
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic — Tyler Mccumber was the only player to reach 8-under par Thursday in the Caribbean breeze until he dropped a shot on his 17th hole and fell into a four-way for the lead in the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship.
Sepp Straka was the only one at 7-under 65 who kept a clean card. He was joined by Hudson Swafford, who made two tough par saves late in his round, and Scott Harrington, who made bogey on the second-easiest hole on the Corales course at Puntacana Resort and Club.
They were one shot clear of Xinjun Zhang and Joseph Bramlett, while former Southern California star Justin Suh got his season off to a happy start and was among those at 67.
Straka’s round was highlighted by a 5-wood to 5 feet for eagle on the par-5 fourth hole early in his round. He also was the only player at 65 who played in the morning before a stiff ocean breeze kicked up late in the afternoon.
“This course is not really one where you can push it,” Straka said. “You can shoot a low round out here, but it’s got to be a consistent low round.”
Rob Oppenheim would appreciate that. He was 4 under through six holes, only to make a pair of bogeys and then take a double-bogey 7 on the par-5 12th hole. He wound up with a 72.
Nearly two-thirds of the 144man field broke par.
The tournament typically is held in the March opposite a World Golf Championship. It was postponed to the week of the Ryder Cup because of the
COVID-19 pandemic. And with the Ryder Cup since postponed until 2021, Punta Cana is now a full Fedex Cup event. The winner receives an invitation to the Masters in April.