Former BYU golfer Carson Lundell competes within the Korn Ferry Utah Championship on Aug, 4, 2022. Fairways Media/Jesse Dodson
Former BYU golfer Zac Blair competes within the Korn Ferry Utah Championship on Aug, 4, 2022. Fairways Media/Jesse Dodson
Carson Lundell couldn’t cease shaking his head. He had simply made a bogey after hitting his drive some 325 yards, inside 80 yards of the inexperienced on his remaining gap in his first spherical on the Korn Ferry Tour’s Utah Championship at Oakridge Nation Membership.
Lundell’s shot from deep tough on the ultimate gap got here up in need of the inexperienced and he couldn’t stand up and down for par from there.
Regardless of the disappointing bogey, the BYU senior, who's considered one of solely two amateurs within the 156-golfer area, nonetheless completed with a 3-under-par 68, which left him in a tie for thirty eighth place after the opening spherical of the $750,000 72-hole event.
However a 66 or 67 would have been so significantly better.
Lundell continues to be in good condition to make the lower with the same spherical Friday and he feels he can do even higher than his opening spherical rating.
“Actually I don’t really feel I hit the ball properly in any respect, however my brief recreation was good and I made lots of putts,” stated the 24-year-old former Lone Peak Excessive golfer. “Positively the nerves have been going the primary few holes and I used to be all amped up for six or seven holes, however on the finish of the day, it’s nonetheless golf. I’m simply attempting to settle in and hit one shot at a time.”
Lundell is considered one of seven golfers with native ties, all of whom performed or play for BYU. The very best rating of the bunch Thursday belonged to Zac Blair, a former PGA Tour common, who's getting back from after sitting out for greater than a yr with a shoulder harm. Blair shot a 7-under-par 64 and sits only a shot behind leaders Jeremy Paul, Ben Silverman and Andrew Kozan, who all completed with 63s.
Former BYU golfer Zac Blair competes within the Korn Ferry Utah Championship on Aug, 4, 2022.
Fairways Media/Jesse Dodson
Blair, 31, had no bogeys on the day and 7 birdies, together with a 15-footer on his remaining gap. He has performed in three Korn Ferry occasions this summer time in his rehab and completed T-23, T-35 and T-13.
Patrick Fishburn, a Korn Ferry common, rating 71st on the cash listing, is one other shot again at 65 after making three eagles and a birdie earlier than struggling his solely bogey of the day on his remaining gap.
Austen Christiansen, who performed at BYU from 2015-17, got here in at 67, whereas Peter Kuest, who received the Utah Open in 2020, joined Lundell at 68. Daniel Summerhays, who misplaced in a playoff on this event in 2020, shot a 70, whereas David Timmins, a present BYU participant and the opposite novice within the event, has work to do after taking pictures a 73.
Amongst different gamers of notice, 2016 champion Nicholas Lindheim shot 68, 2019 champion Kris Ventura fired a 70, former Ryder Cup participant Boo Weekley shot 71 and 2009 champ Josh Teater got here in at 73.