At the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, Patton Kizzia and partner Ben Coles were tied with Mark Hubbard and Ryan Brehm, with both duos dropping in the standings.
Each team shot an 11-under 61 with no bogeys, leading the three teams by one stroke at 10 under at the time of writing.
Kizzile and Coles made six birdies on the front nine and came back with 30 shots. Upon their return, they added four birdies between Nos. 10 and 14. The pair birdied the 18th and returned home with a 31-shot lead, capping off a strong first round.
“Well, we came out of the gate and we both played really well and got birdies on the same holes. Ideally, we’d like to mix it up. But we got off to a good start. I just cut it and kept doing it,” Kizzile said. “Whenever one of us needed the other, we engaged proactively and made it ham and egg. He was a great partner. I needed him there, And he stepped up.”
Both have participated in the Zurich Classic, but this will be their first time together.
“It’s so much fun just to get out here and, like he said, it’s so much fun to have a partner. It’s not something you get to do very often. It’s fun to lean on someone and have that camaraderie,” Corles said. said.
The second day will feature a new format called Alternate Shots, which may be difficult. However, the duo’s game plan remains the same.
“We’re just trying to put ourselves in the best shape we can and if something goes wrong we just help each other out,” Corless said. “That’s all you can do. Just stay in the moment and take the best shot you can at each point and we’ll see where that puts us.”
They weren’t the only players to find success. They matched Hubbard and Brehm in the low rounds of the day.
The team that also performed well in Thursday’s four-ball format was Davis Thompson and Andrew Novak, who shot a 10-under 62.
Canadian duo Corey Connors and Taylor Pendrith are two shots behind after posting a 9-under 63. Will Zalatoris and Saheeth Segala finished the first day with 7-under 65s.
This week’s betting favorites Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele finished four shots behind the lead with a 7-under 65.
The afternoon wave was a little windier on the golf course than the morning group, but several groups were ready to go lower. Keith Mitchell and Joel Dahmen are 7 under after 11 holes. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry also started the back nine at 7 under after 10 holes.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.If you want to know more about golf, please follow us. @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirls and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
