by The US rookies Kevin Velo and Isaiah Salinda combined to form a 14-off-par 58 and set up an 18-hole four-ball tournament record for a lead of a bar on Thursday at the PGA Zurich Classic.
Salinda had eight birdies and an eagle for the partnership, while Velo did five birdies, all in the first nine holes, who made couples at TPC in Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana.
“It was observed outside the body how he makes as many putts as he is sure,” said Velo about Salinda. “He played great. He made a lot of putts. He seemed near every green near every green.
“I sprinkled into a few birdies when we had to, but I was pretty much on my back all day.”
Salinda and Velo, Pals since their junior Golf Days, opened the classic record of 59 by the Americans Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffel in the opening round 2022, which on Thursday on Thursday from the Danish twin brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard to take second place.
“I would have thought that something better than six, seven undersers would have been a good day for us,” said Salinda, who expects harder times in alternative shot format on Friday.
“If we just play solid golf again and again, we are fine.”
Rory Mcilroy from Northern Ireland, in his first event since the winning of the champions two weeks ago, and partner Shane Lowry from Ireland opened with a 64 and shared 28th place to become the first successive Zurich classic master.
“Sometimes every par you make feels like a bogey on such days,” said Mcilroy. “But on the other hand, you have to remember that tomorrow and Sunday are the important days and if you can achieve good results on these days, you can get up with the board pretty quickly.”
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