Houston, Texas ….
Ireland’s Paul Dunne made the most of his four remaining holes to be credited as the leader after completed first round of the rain-affected Houston Open.
Dunne, 25 had moved to six-under par through 15 holes on Thursday when poor light halted play just after 7.30pm local time and with the tournament delayed at the start of play by two hours due to heavy overnight rain ahead of the $7 event.
The reigning British Masters champion holed a 30-footer for birdie at the par-3 16th hole to join the clubhouse leading duo of Lucas Glover and Kevin Tway at seven-under par.
Paul Dunne birdies two of his closing four holes to officially lead the first round of the 2018 Houston Open.
Dunne then took the lead and moving to eight-under par in holing a 13-footer at the par-4 17th but then missed the green right at the last before a superb chip shot to three-feet from where he holed the par putt.
The quietly-spoken Dubliner secured his place into the event for a first occasion after finishing top-10 in last week’s Corales Championship in the Dominican Republic.
The effort is easily Dunne’s lowest score, and despite a lift-clean-and-place rule in effect on the saturated Golf Club of Houston course, in 12 PGA Tour counting events dating back to his appearance in the 2014 Open.
It is Dunne’s lowest score also this year and a short fewer than a 65 on day
three of January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the UAE.
“I’m really pleased as I was playing really well late yesterday and it was only that it started getting dark we had to end play,” he said.
“It can always be different then in the returning to the course the next day and trying to continue that form but I did in managing to hole a great birdie on 16 and then to also birdie 17 was great.
“I did leave myself a tricky chip shot on 18 but the ball came out nicely so it delighted to finish with a 64.
“If you keep it on the fairways then the golf course is very much for the taking.”
Dunne had around 30-minutes ahead of teeing-off in his second round but played down his chances of securing the last invitation into next week’s Masters.
“I can’t be thinking of the Masters,” he said.
“I was delighted to have qualified for this event in finishing fifth last week in the Dominican Republic and all I am focussed on is doing well this week.
“I got into last week thanks to an invitation, so it’s all about making the most of my now limited opportunities in the goal of securing my full PGA Tour card.
“I’m just enjoying the competition, so we’ll see how it pans out this week.”
American Sam Ryder had been leading on eight-under par through 16 holes when play was halted late Thursday but with the 28-year old Florida golfer returning to bogey his closing two holes in a round of a six-under par 66.
