That put him two shots clear of Patrick Rodgers, Ryan Moore, and Zach Johnson – all back in the clubhouse after rounds of 65 – as well as Tom Gillis who was on 16 under after reaching the 16th hole.
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Bad weather had caused a lengthy delay during the day, and several players were still out on course when darkness fell.
Moore enjoyed an eventful opening round that started on the back nine and featured an eagle at the par-five 17th hole and a 30-foot par-saving putt at the par-four ninth. “Playing the regular tour, I’ve been playing pretty decent out there, too”.
“Not many mistakes, and if I did get in trouble, I kind of got myself out of it”, Johnson said.
Johnson had played 12 holes when play was stopped.
Lucy Li, 13, of Redwood, Calif., shot a 2-under 69 in hot and windy conditions at Wannamoisett in Rumford, R.I., to become the second-youngest girl to win the Junior PGA Championship after LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson won her first of two titles in 2007 at age 12.
Defending champion and world number three Jordan Spieth is skipping the event this year in light of his decision to sit out the Rio Olympics golf tournament that also started on Thursday.
“It was very dark out there when play was suspended but I could have putted it”, Loupe said of his par effort. But you know, a good putt can save just about anything, and that’s what happened. “I really like the greens, they are some of the purest greens we play”. “I’m hitting my irons good”.
Pinckney made five straight birdies and six in a seven-hole stretch on his final nine. “So, it wasn’t like all of a sudden I’m hitting it good”.
Three-time victor Steve Stricker carded a one-under-par 70 to be seven shots off the pace, while 2014 champion Brian Harman is a stroke back. The 49-year-old Stricker, a former University of IL player from Wisconsin, won the event in 2009, ’10 and ’11. “I just didn’t play that sharply”.
Gillis entered the clubhouse just two-strokes behind leader Wesley Bryan, who was 12-under.
NCAA champion Aaron Wise was 1 under after seven holes in his PGA Tour debut as a pro. Making his PGA Tour debut as a pro, the former OR player won a PGA Tour Canada event two weeks ago in Edmonton, Alberta.
Still playing full time on the PGA Tour at 53, the Fijian shot 4-under 66 at Scioto Country Club in suburban Columbus.
Bryan has made a fast rise since focusing on tournament golf a year ago after working as a trick-shot artist with brother George.
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John Senden and Cameron Percy are even par, while Steven Bowditch shot a three-over 74.
