Golf: Collins Shoots 60 To Surge Into Barbasol Lead
Zeeshan Mehtab Published July 22, 2017 | 08:50 AM
WASHINGTON, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jul, 2017 ) : Chad Collins nearly made history Friday, but his 11-under par 60 was enough for a four-shot lead at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour's Barbasol Championship.
The 38-year-old American came within a whisker of an a rare 59, just missing a hole-in-one on the par-three 17th at the Robert Trent Jones Trail Grand National course in Auburn, Alabama. His tee shot bounced twice on the green then rolled straight at the hole before catching the right edge and skipping over.
He ended up parring the par-three hole. "Hit a good shot, but I hit it a little heavy," Collins said. "I didn't think it was going to get back there and it must have had a lot of overspin. "I wasn't sure how close it came to going in, but had to come pretty close." Indeed it did.
He was trying to become just the ninth player in USPGA Tour history to shoot 59 but settled for 60 to tie the tournament course record. "I gave it a run. I'm not too disappointed at all by 60, so I'll take it," Collins said.
His 11 birdies allowed him to finish at 15-under 127 for a four-shot lead over fellow Americans Grayson Murray and Cameron Tringale. Murray fired a seven-under 64 while Tringale shot a five-under 66 to finish at 11-under 131.
Canadian David Hearn (65) and Brian Gay (63) were tied for fourth at 10-under 132, five shots adrift of Collins.
Many of the golfers had to finish their first round Friday morning after a storm Thursday halted play for two hours and then darkness fell.
The second round was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for Collins so far. He sits 170th in the FedEx Cup standings and this marked just the fifth time he has made the cut in 2017.
Collins had several chances to get to the magic 59 as he made six straight birdies on the back nine starting on the 11th hole. On No. 15 his approach shot landed just two feet from the hole for an easy birdie.
Then at 18, his 70 foot putt over a slight ridge, snaked left then just to the right, leaving him five feet past for par. "I just got myself out of position off the tee, which you can't do," Collins said.
"Probably one of the easiest hole locations on the green, so it was kind of unfortunate to not hit the fairway and I probably would have had a better look at birdie there." Jim Furyk, who is tied for 42nd, holds the Tour record with a 58 that he shot at the 2016 Travelers Championship.
Adam Hadwin and Justin Thomas both shot 59s earlier this year. New Zealand's Steve Alker and American Tag Ridings both shot 67 and are part of a group of four at nine-under. The hot muggy Alabama conditions had players and their caddies feeling the heat Friday.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Teenage girl arrested after stabbing at Welsh school
Ministers visit Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital following roof collapse incident
Karachi, Lahore, Multan win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
No communication gap among players, asserts Babar Azam
IHC serves notices in petition against 'roti' price fixation
Bank employees deprived of Rs 1m at gunpoint
Media playing the role of fourth pillar of democracy: Atta Tarar
AIOU to host 37th annual conference of AAOU in Oct
Pakistan Day Reception in Pakistan Embassy Abu Dhabi
ADC directs to expedite anti-dengue activities
PFA discards Gutka harmful for human health
SSC, HSSC annual exams in Sindh to be conducted in May
More Stories From Sports
-
Karachi, Lahore, Multan win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
7 minutes ago -
No communication gap among players, asserts Babar Azam
8 minutes ago -
Bracewell looks ahead to Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan
8 minutes ago -
Bolt named ICC Men’s T20 WC 2024 ambassador
1 hour ago -
Kewell's Yokohama beat Ulsan to reach Asian Champions League final
2 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results
3 hours ago
-
Advisor Sports hands over Rs500,000 to prominent Martial Art Athlete Irfan Mehsud
3 hours ago -
Muhammad Rizwan, Mohammad Irfan Khan ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand
3 hours ago -
Rizwan, Irfan out of New Zealand series
3 hours ago -
Sana named ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier ambassador
4 hours ago -
Stone Lifter Martin Licis showcases skills at Haripur cultural sports competition
4 hours ago -
Imad Wasim expected to take part in fourth T20I match against New Zealand
5 hours ago