Brendan Steele’s push for the first-round lead in the rain-hit Valero Texas Open was halted by darkness on Thursday, leaving Charley Hoffman with the clubhouse lead.
On a day that saw inclement weather halt play for about three-and-a-half hours, Hoffman made it safely into the clubhouse with a six-under-par 66.
Steele, the 2011 winner, had surged past Hoffman to the top of the leaderboard with eight birdies in 13 holes without a bogey before darkness halted play.
Photo: AFP
Steele was to be one of 72 golfers returning to complete the first round yesterday morning before teeing off for the second round.
Hoffman had seven birdies and a bogey.
He hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation despite finding the fairway on only eight of his drives and needed only 26 putts.
Two of Hoffman’s birdie putts were from inside five feet, the longest from 22 feet.
“Six-under-par is always good on this golf course, or any golf course,” Hoffman said. “I tend to play well here, and hopefully I can keep it going and have a chance on Sunday [tomorrow].
Hoffman is looking for a fourth PGA Tour title, and his first since the OHL Classic at Mayakoba last year.
He led after the second round of the Shell Houston Open three weeks ago, but faded to a tie for 33rd after playing the last two rounds in six-over.
“I’ve been close the last month or so, and I’ve got to put four good rounds together instead of three,” Hoffman said. “You don’t win golf tournaments with three good rounds.”
Steele teed off on 10 on the Oaks course at TPC San Antonio and birdied his first three holes.
After another birdie at 14, he strung together four birdies in a row at 18, one, two and three.
Stuart Appleby and Peter Malnati shared third place, both in the clubhouse on five-under 67.
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