Thursday’s first round of the Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour in Jackson, Mississippi, saw Davis Riley and Will Gordon take the lead by one stroke.
Riley shot a bogey-free 66 at the Country Club of Jackson, while Gordon went to the top of the leaderboard with seven birdies and one bogey.
Gordon and Riley, who have not won on the PGA Tour, are one stroke ahead of the group of seven men tied for third at five under.
Riley’s victory this weekend would be especially significant for the 25-year-old world number 69, who was born in Mississippi and played the Country Club of Jackson course frequently as a child.
“As an individual and as a high school team, I have good recollections of this venue,” Riley stated.
It’s great to return to a location where you have fond recollections and a strong sense of familiarity.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa and Thomas Detry of Belgium are members of the chasing pack at five under.
Nick Taylor of Canada and Kim Seong-hyeon of South Korea are tied for 10th place after shooting 68s at four under par.
Eleven competitors are a further stroke back on three under after shooting 69, three shots behind the leader.
This group contains Brandon Wu, whose round included a magnificent ace on the par-3 fourth hole.
Wu’s ace was one of two that illuminated the first round. M.J. Daffue of South Africa also recorded a hole-in-one en route to a two-under-par score of 70.
AFP