There’s no question players on the mini tours are outstanding golfers and the margin between them and those on the PGA Tour is razor thin.
But it should also be no surprise that it’s the handful of Tour players who are near the top of the leaderboard after Day 1 of the Scottsdale AZ Open.
SCOTTSDALE AZ OPEN: Scores | Tee times
Nate Lashley, who won the 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit last year, fired a 62 on the North Course at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale. He eagled the second hole and also had six birdies and no bogeys and has a one-shot lead.
Zach Smith shot a 63 after posting seven birdies in his round. He is a shot back. Steven Kupcho, brother of rising LPGA star Jennifer Kupcho, shot a 6-under 64 and is solo third.
The eight-way tie for fourth at 5-under includes the PGA Tour’s Joel Dahmen, Scott Harrington and Kevin Streelman as well as the recently retired Colt Knost. They all shot 65s, as did the Korn Ferry Tour’s Brandon Wu, Kevin Lucas and Andre Metzger. Also at 5 under is Brady Calkins.
Another PGA Tour player, JJ Spaun, shot a 2-under 68 and is T-26, tied with Sam Triplett, who is the son of PGA Tour Champions player Kirk Triplett. Let the record show that on this day, son beat father by two shots.
Dahmen won the tournament in 2017, his last professional win, and actually came into this event as the favorite.
“Vegas says I’m favored,” Dahmen said before his pro-am round on Monday. “This is such a new territory. … I’m usually like the 15th guy on the list at 100-to-1.”
Dahmen came in as hot as any player, having shot a 58 at nearby Mesa Country Club last week.
The Scottsdale AZ Open is a 54-hole stroke play event with a field of 162 players. After 36 holes, there will be a cut to the low 50 players and ties. The total purse is $130,000 with $20,000 going to the winner.
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