CROMWELL, Conn. — Kenny Perry shot a 9-under-par 61 to tie the course record and take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Travelers Championship on Thursday.
Perry, who has finished in the top 10 seven times at this tournament, shot a 29 on the front nine and had no bogeys. He flirted with a 59 before making par on the final two holes.
“I was looking for that magical number,” Perry said. “I thought I could do it today. It was definitely in the back of my head. I was definitely trying to get it done.”
More than 100 golfers shot under par, taking advantage of light winds and the soft greens left by the same rains that plagued the U.S. Open.
Charles Warren and Paul Goydos each shot 7-under 63s to tie for second place. They also played bogey-free rounds. Goydos had birdies on three of his final four holes, while Warren putted for birdie 16 times.
“Whoever the superintendent is has done an unbelievable job getting the golf course ready given the amount of rain you’ve had,” Warren said. “So, I think there will be low rounds all week. . . . I think 59 is a possibility.”
U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover was among nine golfers tied at 5-under 65.
Gal leads Wegmans LPGA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Germany’s Sandra Gal kept loose over a game of chess during a rain delay and shot an 8-under 64 to lead Jiyai Shin by one stroke before darkness suspended first-round play at the Wegmans LPGA.
An afternoon storm packing hail, lightning and torrential rain interrupted the tournament for three hours at the tree-lined Locust Hill course. Poor light then ended play at 8:37 p.m. with 30 players unable to finish their rounds.
Kristy McPherson and Michele Redman were tied for fourth with 5-under 67s. Tiger Woods’ 18-year-old niece, Cheyenne, carded a 75 in her pro- tour debut, which came courtesy of a sponsor exemption.
Footnotes.
Retief Goosen shot an 8-under 64 to lead by two after the first round of the rainy BMW International Open in Munich.
• Golf great Seve Ballesteros announced the launch of a cancer foundation as he went before the press in Madrid for the first time since undergoing brain tumor surgery nine months ago.
• The PGA of America and Turner Sports have extended their broadcasting rights contract through 2019. TNT will continue to air coverage of the PGA Championship on Thursday and Friday and early on Saturday and Sunday.
The Associated Press
