Two teams share first-round lead at Zurich Classic
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[April 21, 2023]
The two-man teams of Wyndham Clark-Beau Hossler and Sean
O'Hair-Brandon Matthews took advantage of the four-ball format to
share the first-round lead Thursday at the Zurich Classic in
Avondale, La.
The only team-based tournament on the PGA Tour schedule, the Zurich
Classic uses a four-ball (best-ball) format in the first and third
rounds, and foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final
rounds.
"We played nice, both of us played nicely, and to be honest, looking
back on it, we probably ham-and-egged it just about perfect, right?"
said Hossler of the 11-under-par 61 that he and Clark carded at TPC
Louisiana.
There are five teams tied for third at 10 under, including brothers
Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick of England. Matt Fitzpatrick won the RBC
Heritage on Sunday on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Alex Fitzpatrick is
making his second career start on the PGA Tour.
Hossler got the first-time teammates started with a birdie at the
par-4 first hole, and he contributed birdies at Nos. 6, 9, 11, 12,
13 and 16.
Clark picked him up with birdies at No. 3, 7, 15 and 18 as well as a
par on the par-4 No. 10 to erase Hossler's bogey.
"We took advantage of the hardest holes, which is not easy to do out
here," Hossler said of TPC Louisiana. "With that said, I think also
we left a couple out there that, hopefully, we can get in the next
few days."
O'Hair and Matthews, also first-time teammates, tore through the
course with a 30 on the front nine and a 31 on the back nine,
including Matthews' eagle on the par-4 12th hole.
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The duo made four straight birdies from Nos. 2-5,
then added birdies at Nos. 7, 8, 11, 13 and 18. O'Hair's bogey at
No. 3 disappeared with Matthews' birdie.
"Well, (Matthews) played really well," O'Hair said. "I just kind of
filled the gaps. The way he hits the driver is unbelievable, and it
just puts him in so many good scoring positions. It was fun to
watch, really.
"He hit some incredible wedges, and I think for me it was just kind
of like just stay out of his way and let him do his thing. But it
was a fun round. ... I kind of picked up on a few holes, and that's
all I could really ask for."
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Joining the Fitzpatricks in the tie for third at 10 under are the
teams of David Lipsky and England's Aaron Rai, Keith Mitchell and
South Korea's Sungjae Im, Luke List and Sweden's Henrik Norlander,
and Michael Kim and South Korea's S.Y. Noh.
Defending champions Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay are tied
for 56th at 5-under 67. Schauffele birdied Nos. 7, 8, 11 and 16, but
bogeyed 15 and 17. Cantlay birdied Nos. 10, 12 and 13 but made bogey
at the par-4 No. 6.
Of the 80 teams, 79 finished at 1-under 71 or better. The lone duo
above par were major champions John Daly and David Duval, who came
in at 3-over 75.
--Field Level Media
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