Kirk is Day 1 Leader

Friday, 10 September 2010 19:46

Sandy • Unexpected nerves? Daniel Summerhays had them Thursday.

“I worked myself up a little to where I was a little nervous or scared to go and play,” the former Davis High and BYU golfer said about the rare opportunity of performing before family and friends. “I had a little battle with myself the last 24 hours. That’s why I’m so happy with the way I played today.”

Summerhays’ solid round on Day 1 of the Nationwide Tour’s Utah Championship at Willow Creek Country Club was three shots behind the tour’s top earner, Chris Kirk, who finished at 6-under-par 65.

Kirk’s day included an ace on the second hole, a 191-yard par 3.

“I thought it bounced off the flag,” Kirk said. “That was cool.”

Ball placement was crucial with gusty winds, intermittent rain and lightning-fast greens. Summerhays found himself putting with a fairway wood from the fringe 20 feet above the hole on the par-3 18th.

Using a feather touch, Summerhays’ ball kept trickling until coming to a rest an inch from the hole.

“That was slippery,” he said, exiting the green.

Greens became more difficult until a rain squall swept through late in the afternoon. The greens remained quick, but were softer.

“I putted really well today,” said Kirk, who hit only five of 12 fairways. “If that. I was in the rough all day.”

Michael Putnam’s 66 stood out from the rest of those who teed off in the morning and early afternoon. The top 60 golfers, including ties, from a field of 156 will play the final two days, including Sunday, for the $99,000 first-place check.

Summerhays, confidence restored, stayed away from trouble and took what the course allowed.

“I’m so close to getting my card,” said Summerhays, 15th on the money list. The top 25 earn PGA Tour cards. “I was able to say the right things to myself and really come out with no expectations for myself, for my game and that’s how I’ve been the whole year; and that’s been key for me.”

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Leaderboard

Chris Kirk -6

Michael Putnam -5

Cliff Kresge -5

Fabian Gomez -5

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