TRUCKEE, Calif. — After a bit of a rough start, Ollie Osborne settled in and found his game.
Osborne, a 2017 graduate of nearby Bishop Manogue High School, is making his PGA Tour debut this week in the Barracuda Championship at Tahoe Mountain Club’s Old Greenwood golf course.
Osborne started his round Thursday with three bogeys on his first four holes, four on the front nine, and a double bogey on No. 7.
But he also mixed in two birdies on the front nine, then two more on the back, including on No. 18, to finish his round with +2 points in the Modified Stableford scoring system.
Golfers earn eight points for a double eagle, five for an eagle, two for a birdie and zero for a par. Golfers lose a point for a bogey and three points for a double bogey or worse. The top 65 and ties make the cut after Friday’s second round.
Osborne, 22, who had a large gallery following him around the course, played in the Barracuda as an amateur in 2019, the last time it was held at Montreux Golf & Country Club.
He graduated from SMU this past spring and turned pro. Playing on a sponsor exemption this year, he finished as runner-up in the 2020 U.S. Amateur, which earned him a spot in the Masters and U.S. Open in 2021.
“I didn’t play too well, but I feel a lot more comfortable out there, especially after having a couple Tour starts,” Osborne said. “I was feeling confident going in, so hopefully I can do (Friday) what I did to end (Thursday). I got off to a tough start but I was able to bring it back a little bit.”
Osborne was at minus-5 points on his front nine, but he said battling back like he did helps his mindset for Friday.
He had played Old Greenwood three times before this week.
His older brother, Stephen, who played golf in college at Nevada, is his caddie this week and he is more familiar with the course.
Ollie said having so much family and friends supporting him on the course also helps his attitude.
“It was a lot of fun, especially when you make a putt and you hear a couple claps,” he said.
He is tied for 80th place in the 164-player field (as of 6 p.m. Thursday).
As for the leaders
Mark Hubbard and Charley Hoffman are tied for the lead with +13 points. They each made seven birdies Thursday.
Three players are tied for second with +12 points: Brice Garnett, Sean Crocker and Aaron Cockerill.
Maverick McNealy, Jim Knous, Henrick Norlander, Michael Gligic and Callum Tarren are next, each with +11 points.
Former champions
There are nine former Barracuda champions in the field this week: Richy Werenski (2020), Andrew Putnam (2018), Chris Stroud (2017), Greg Chalmers (2016), JJ Henry (2012 and 2015), Geoff Ogilvy (2014), Scott Piercy (2011), Parker McLachlin (2008) Vaughn Taylor (2004 and 2005).
Ogilvy finished with-4 points Thursday, Henry is at +4, Stroud at +5, Werenski at +6, Putnam at -2, McLachlin is at -12, Chalmers is at +5; Ogilvy at -4, Piercy is at +8 and Taylor is at +4 .
Ogilvy, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, is making his first start on the Tour since 2018. He received a sponsor exemption into the field this week. He made three starts in Australia earlier this year.
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