GOLF ROUNDUP

Martin breaks course record with 62

AVONDALE, La. - Ben Martin treated a tiny gallery to a course-record round, shooting a 10-under 62 on Thursday in the first round of the Zurich Classic.

Martin’s 10th birdie was his most spectacular shot in a round full of them as he chipped in from 55 feet on the par-3 17th hole. That came a hole after the 26-year-old former Clemson player hit the flag on a chip from behind the green, setting up a tap-in par.

The previous record at TPC Louisiana was a 64, accomplished many times, including once earlier Thursday, when Andrew Svoboda did it to take a lead that held up until Martin surged past late in the day.

Peter Hanson and Sueng-Yul Noh were tied for third at 65.

Martin matched his career best Sunday with a third-place tie in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, S.C. He also finished third last month in the Puerto Rico Open.

Martin opened with a 10-foot birdie putt, the first of six birdies on the front nine, most set up by approach shots within 10 feet. One exception was his 26-foot birdie putt on No. 5. He opened the back nine with a 14-foot birdie putt, made a 10-footer on 11 and a 20-footer on 13.

Svoboda birdied six of his last nine holes.

Like Martin, the 34-year old Svoboda has never won on the PGA Tour. Svoboda’s best career finish on the PGA Tour is a tie for 15th at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas last October.

Hanson’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 sixth hole. After a 277-yard drive to the middle of the fairway, Hanson knocked in his second shot with a 6-iron from 183 yards.

Hanson noted that he used the same club for a hole-in-one during a practice round at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla., last weekend.

“So it’s holed out twice in the last five days,” Hanson said.

Hanson, who missed the cut at the Masters, said the key to his strong start in New Orleans was probably putting away his clubs for four days after returning from Augusta and trying to relax more.

“We want to do this so exact and be so precise,” Hanson said. “I over-read putts and overanalyze the shots, trying to figure this game out. I think sometimes you have to let the score come to you instead of you going after it.”

Erik Compton, Chad Collins and Michael Thompson were tied for fifth at 66, and Jeff Overton, Stuart Appleby and Robert Streb followed at 67.

David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) is six strokes behind after a 4-under 68. Tag Ridings (Razorbacks), who made it in as an alternate, shot a 1-under 71 and sits in a tie for 54th place with 28 others. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) shot a 73, while Scott Gardiner (Farmington) was a stroke behind that along with 2013 champion Billy Horschel after a 2-over 74.

EUROPEAN PGA

Two tied for China lead

SHENZHEN, China - Alvaro Quiros and Simon Dyson each shot a 5-under 67 to share the lead after the first round of the China Open on Thursday.

The pair were a stroke ahead of a group of six golfers that included defending champion Brett Rumford of Australia and Alexander Levy of France, who briefly moved into a tie with Quiros and Dyson in the growing darkness on his back nine but bogeyed the par-3 8th hole before play was suspended. He has one hole remaining to play.

England’s Ian Poulter was in a group of 12 golfers just behind at 3 under on an extremely crowded leaderboard.

Henrik Stenson, who has a chance to take over the top ranking from Tiger Woods with a win this week, had a 71. LPGA

Icher jumps in front

DALY CITY, Calif. - Karine Icher of France birdied four of her first seven holes and finished with a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take the lead in the inaugural Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

The start was delayed two hours because of fog and play was suspended because of darkness before all of the women finished the first round.

Icher had a bogey-free round and hit all but one green in regulation in the steadiest performance. Many struggled off the tee or with their putters on speedy, challenging greens on a cool day with plenty of wind and hovering fog not far off the Pacific Ocean.

Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) opened with a 3-under 69 after four birdies and a bogey and sits in a tie for seventh place with four others.

Sports, Pages 26 on 04/25/2014

Upcoming Events