NAPA, Calif. — David Lipsky shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday at Silverado Nation Membership to take a one-stroke lead after the primary spherical of the Procore Championship.
Winless in 104 occasions since becoming a member of the PGA Tour in 2022, Lipsky went out with the early teams and had eight birdies with one bogey to kick off the FedEx Cup Fall collection on the picturesque course within the coronary heart of Napa Valley wine nation.
After lacking the minimize in his three earlier tournaments, Lipsky flew from Las Vegas to Arizona to reunite along with his faculty coach at Northwestern to get his focus again. He additionally frolicked enjoying with a few of the Northwestern gamers, which helped him chill out.
“Simply being round these guys and seeing how carefree they’re, not understanding what’s coming for them but, it is kind of good to see that,” Lipsky stated. “I used to be nearly energized by their youthfulness.”
Patton Kizzire and Mark Hubbard have been a stroke again. Kizzire began on the again 9 and made a late run with three consecutive birdies to maneuver right into a tie for first. A bogey on No. 8 dropped him again.
“There was loads of good things on the market right this moment,” Kizzire stated. “I stayed affected person and simply went via my routines and performed nicely, one shot at a time. I’ve actually bee working laborious on my psychological sport and I feel that allowed me to rinse and repeat and reset and hold enjoying.”
Mark Hubbard was at 67. He had 9 birdies however fell off the tempo with a bogey and triple bogey on back-to-back holes.
Kevin Dougherty additionally was within the group at 67. He had two eagles and ended his afternoon by holing out from 41 yards on the 383-yard, par-4 18th.
Defending champion Sahith Theegala needed to scramble for a lot of his spherical of 69.
Wyndham Clark, who gained the U.S. Open in 2023 and the AT&T at Pebble Seaside in February, had a 70.
Max Homa shot 71. The 2-time match champion and a captain’s choose for the President’s Cup in two weeks had two birdies and overcame a bogey on the par-4 first.
Stewart Cink, the 2020 winner, additionally opened with a 71. He gained The Ally Problem final month for his first PGA Tour Champions title.
Three gamers from the Presidents Cup Worldwide group had combine outcomes. Min Woo Lee shot 68, Mackenzie Hughes 69 and Corey Conners 73. Worldwide group captain Mike Weir additionally had a 69.
Lipsky was a bit shaky off the tee for a lot of the afternoon however made up for it with regular iron play that left him in nice form on the greens. He had one-putts on 11 holes and was in place for an even bigger day however left 5 putts brief.
Lipsky’s solely actual drawback got here on the par-4 ninth when his method sailed right into a bunker simply shy of the inexperienced. He bounced again properly with 5 birdies on his again 9. After lacking a 19-foot putt for birdie on No. 17, Lipsky ended his day with a 12-foot par putt.
That was a giant change from final yr when Lipsky completed tied for thirtieth at Silverado when he drove the ball nicely however had uneven success on the greens.
“Typically you must notice golf might be enjoyable, and I feel I kind of forgot that alongside the best way as I am grinding it out,” Lipsky stated. “You have to put issues in perspective, take a step again. Kind of did that and it looks like it is figuring out.”
Laird stayed shut after starting his day with a bogey on the par-4 tenth. The Scot acquired out of the sand properly however pushed his par putt previous the opening.
Homa continued to have points off the tee and missed birdie putts on his remaining 4 holes.
