Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer sizzled with a 14-under 58 record equaling round to take the opening round lead at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament.
The Four-ball opening round at the team tournament was highlighted by birdie-eagle-birdie start for Smalley and four consecutive birdies to close the round for Springer.
This is the first time that the duo are playing as a pair. Smalley is making his fourth tournament, while Springer is making his third.
Matt Fitzpatrick, fresh off his Heritage victory, teamed up with younger brother Alex to shoot an 8-under 64, leaving the English duo six shots behind Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer.
But for another high profile pairing, Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka are on the verge of missing the cut. The pair shot a 66 to leave them outside the top 40 and in danger of missing the cut as the Foursomes (alternate shot) round takes place next.
Partnering for the first time Davis Thompson/Austin Eckroat are in second spot at 13-under 59. Their round was highlighted by a nine-hole stretch on Nos. 7-15 with an eagle (No. 7) and eight straight birdies.
Ben Griffin and teammate Andrew Novak are in tied in 42nd spot with a seven-under 65 round and will have to buck up is they want to successfully defend their title
Teams play Four-Ball in the first and third rounds, and Foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final rounds.
Two teams were tied for third at 60 – Sam Stevens and Zach Bouchou, along with Eric Cole and Hank Lebioda. Billy Horschel — the only player to win the Zurich in both single-play and team formats — was again in the hunt when he and Tom Hoge shot a 61 to put them in a seven-way tie for fifth.
Five way tie atop in Argentina
Americans Danny Fisher and Evan Knight; Taiwanese Lin Chuan-Tai and Argentinians Fabian Gomez and Vicente Marzilio are all part of a five-way tie for the lead as darkness halted the first round of the 94 Abierto del Centro Zurich presentado por Personal, the second event of the PGA Tour Americas season.
Chuan-Tai made a hole-in-one with a 50-degree gap wedge on the 155-yard, par-3 10th hole at Cordoba Golf Club en route to his 5-under 66.
Mateo Pulcini, winner of the 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship, carded a 1-under 70 and is in a distant 42nd spot.
