JT Poston shot a 10-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead after day one of the American Express Tournament at La Quinta Country Club.
The 31-year-old American recovered from his first bogey on the par-4 back nine to finish the round with an eagle and nine birdies.
Justin Rohr was a shot behind Poston after a bogey-free 63 that included back-to-back eagles and one shot ahead of 8 under par, which included Jason Day, Joel Damen, Chris Kirk, JJ Spaun and Matty Schmid.
“When I feel like I’m hitting it really well, I feel like I have all my shots, I can get the ball close to the hole and I can utilize my scoring club,” said Poston, a three-time PGA Tour winner. He said he was a winner. “I feel like I can go out and make a lot of birdies like I did today, so that’s what these types of tournaments do.”
Canadian Nick Taylor won the Sony Open last Sunday with a round of 65 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course. Tony Finau shot 7 under, Justin Thomas shot 67 and Patrick Cantlay shot 68.
JT Poston took the one-stroke lead at American Express with an eagle and nine birdies.
Blades Brown, a 17-year-old prodigy who enjoys a sponsor exemption, shot a 72 in his first round as a pro. After a bogey on the second hole and a double bogey on the third, the high school freshman from Nashville, Tennessee, calmed down and made three straight birdies before finishing with 12 straight pars.
The American Express is the third event of the new PGA Tour season and one of only two pro-ams on the calendar, and follows a long history of events called the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
World number one Scottie Scheffler had been scheduled to compete, but withdrew 10 days in advance to give himself more time to heal from a right-side injury following a freak Christmas accident.
Defending champion Nick Dunlap shot a 67 at La Quinta in his return to the tournament, where he became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years.
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