Lashley finishes strong for Detroit lead; Watney lurks
DETROIT — Nate Lashley birdied the final three holes and five of the last six for a 9-under-par 63 and the first-round lead Thursday in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, the PGA Tour’s first event in Detroit.
Lashley, 36, had the lowest score in his PGA Tour career, a day after getting a spot at Detroit Golf Club as an alternate. Ranked 353rd in the world and No. 132 in the Fedex Cup standings, Lashley’s lone top10 finish in his two-year career is a tie for eighth in the Puerto Rico Open in February.
Las Vegas resident Nick Watney and Ryan Armour were one stroke back at 64. Chez Reavie, the Travelers Championship winner last week in Connecticut, and Charles Howell III and Stewart Cink topped the group at 65.
Dustin Johnson, the world’s second-ranked player, opened with a 71. Gary Woodland had a 73 in his first start since winning the U.S. Open.
Lashley made the most of the opportunity with a bogey-free round, taking advantage of scoring opportunities during a day with little wind on a short course with receptive greens. He opened with a birdie and had three more on the front nine before the closing spree.
Champions:
At South Bend, Ind., Steve Stricker made his U.S. Senior Open Championship debut with an eagle on the 17th hole for an 8-under 62 to share the lead with defending champion David Toms on a soft Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame.
Toms set a U.S. Senior Open record with 10 birdies, finishing with four in a row for a 29 on the back nine.
European PGA:
At Sotogrande, Spain, Victor Perez of France shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 to open with a one-stroke lead in the Andalucia Masters. Sergio Garcia, the defending champion and tournament host, was among five players tied for second.