Tony Finau, the first US PGA player of Tongan and Samoan ancestry, fired a six-under par 65 Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the Mayakoba Classic.
Finau, in his rookie tour campaign, was level with fellow Americans Hudson Swafford, Robert Garrigus, Will MacKenzie, Steve Wheatcroft and Daniel Berger at the $6.1 million event in Mexico.
Finau, who began on the back nine, took a bogey at the 12th but answered with birdies at the par-5 13th, and par-4 16th and 18th holes, the latter starting a run of four birdies in a row.
After a bogey at the par-5 fifth, Finau finished with birdies at the par-5 seventh and par-4 ninth to grab his share of first place.
One stroke off the pace were another 14 players, including New Zealand's Danny Lee, Australian Aaron Baddeley, Germany's Alex Cejka and American Davis Love.
Home-nation hope Carlos Ortiz was among eight others on 67.
Source: AFP
