Gary Koch shot a tournament-record 62 to take the lead after the first round of The ACE Group Classic on Friday.
Koch, who finished at 10-under-par, holed out a 50-foot bunker shot for eagle on No. 17 and nearly made a 20-footer for birdie on the final hole.
PHOTO: AP
"I wish this day would never end," Koch said.
Tour rookie Lonnie Nielsen shot 8-under 28 on the back nine to finish one shot back at 63. Hale Irwin, who has won this event twice, and Larry Nelson are three shots back. Two-time champion Gil Morgan is in a group of five players at 6-under.
Koch was among the first-round leaders last week at Key Biscayne after a bogey-free 69, but stumbled with an 80 and 81 to tie for 63rd. After that opening round, he learned mother-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Koch, who started on the 10th hole on Friday, made the turn at 2-under. He then made birdie on three of his first four holes following the turn.
It was. He followed with a birdie from 3m on No. 14, a 2 1/2-footer on No. 16 and then the bunker shot for eagle on No. 17.
Playing partner Mark McCumber started yelling: "That's in. That's going in. That's in."
"Sure enough, it went in," said Koch, who will work about a dozen golf tournaments as an NBC analyst and also play on the Champions Tour.
Nielsen, playing in one of the final groups, quietly made his move and, like Koch, did it on the back nine after a shaky front side.
He made six birdies and an eagle on the back, making a 1.75m shot on the par-5 13th, as the field took advantage of no wind and soft greens.
"You're just not going to get a better day to play golf than we had today," Nielsen said.
Jack Nicklaus birdied three of his first seven holes and was at 5-under at one point, but bogeyed No. 7, his 16th hole and finished at 4-under, good for a tie for 14th.
The tournament went to split tees due to morning fog that delayed the start of play.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely