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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teams play Four-Ball in the first and third rounds, and Foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two teams were tied for third at 60 – Sam Stevens and Zach Bouchou, along with Eric Cole and Hank Lebioda. Billy Horschel \u2014 the only player to win the Zurich in both single-play and team formats \u2014 was again in the hunt when he and Tom Hoge shot a 61 to put them in a seven-way tie for fifth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mateo Pulcini, winner of the 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship, carded a 1-under 70 and is in a distant 42nd spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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