English Harry Hall shot seven under 64 years to earn a stake in the first round at the Mexican Open in Vidantaworth.
Six of the seven PGA tour events so far had international winners this year, and Mexico Open has taken a step with that trend on Thursday, with German Jeremy Paul and Kris Ventura Norway tied at the top of the leading board.
Within two leadership shots is former open champion Francesco Molinari, who has been among the large group of players for five years, despite the Italian opened his twice with double fools six.
Molinari, who last won the 2019 PGA tour, gathered with four birds before the turn, adding the eagle to the 16th hole and the bird in the last.
Hall, who requested his girlfriend’s victory for PGA Tour in the play-offs at the Isco Championship last year, handed over a circle without any condition. And he tossed himself to the eagle, at the 15th, along with five birds, while Paul carted two leadership orlables.
Ventura was the only player who reached eight during the initial circle, and late in the day he rejected three flat birds, before missing green on the three ninth, his last hole, as he closed with his sword.
“Bummer with the last hole, but besides, really solid,” Ventura said. “Obviously he could make some more birds, but only happy where my game was.
“I can’t expect to hit him every day. Today he was just one of those days where everything was in place.”
Five players group – South African Aldrich Pogieter, Argentine’s Alejandro toti and American trio Isaia Salinda, Brian Campbell and Patrick Fishburn – shot at the pace in a short.
Joining Molinari, another back in the cluster at five under is World no. 30 Akshay Bhatia, while English Aaron Rai – took one place more, the highest in the field – is four below.
The New Zealand Ryan Fox threw out a trip of more than 91 feet for a bird in the 14th hole on the way to the opening of 68, one shot is worse than champion defenders Jake Knapp, who scored three of his last five holes to publish four -legged 67.
Check out the second round of Mexico open on Friday, live on Sky Sports Golf from 3:00 pm and Sky Sports Main Event at 5.30pm. No Sky? Get Sky Sports or Stream without a contract now.
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